The Scottish Government acted unlawfully regarding sexual harassment complaints against former first minister Alex Salmond, Scotland’s highest civil court has ruled.
Mr Salmond revealed his plans to sue the Scottish Government in August last year following complaints about his behaviour made by two staff members during his time as First Minister.
The hearing took place today at Scotland’s highest civil court, the Court of Session, as part of his legal challenge against the Scottish Government.
Scotland’s most senior civil servant, Permanent Secretary Leslie Evans, said afterwards that the lawyers for both sides had “informed the Court of Session that his action has been settled and the court has approved that settlement”.
And she accepted that the Scottish Government’s investigation of two complaints made against the former first minister was “procedurally flawed”.
STATEMENT – Alex Salmond welcomes court victory as Scottish Government admits defeat pic.twitter.com/QHaFJm6BzJ
— Alex Salmond (@AlexSalmond) January 8, 2019
Contact between the investigating officer and the two complainers around the time the allegations were made in January 2018 could have created an “impression of partiality,” Ms Evans conceded.
She stated: “There is nothing to suggest that the investigating officer did not conduct their duties in an impartial way. Unfortunately, the interactions with the complainants in advance of the complaints being made meant that the process was flawed, however impartially and fairly the investigating officer conducted the investigation.”
The former Gordon MP announced his resignation from the SNP after 45 years in August.