The widow of Alex Salmond – who prevented public life for greater than 40 years – has dramatically damaged her silence and condemned assaults on her late husband.
Moira Salmond, 87, mentioned the assaults had triggered her and her household “nice misery, harm and ache” and had been “deeply unfair”. And she or he pleaded: “Let Alex relaxation in peace.”
In a robust and deeply emotional public assertion, she didn’t point out Nicola Sturgeon by title, however her plea got here after Ms Sturgeon criticised Mr Salmond‘s conduct.
In an interview with the Monetary Occasions, Ms Sturgeon – who succeeded Mr Salmond as Scotland‘s first minister in 2014 – mentioned: “He could be actually tough on folks. Many instances I intervened to cease him.”
And on girls who introduced harassment claims in opposition to him, she added: “I’ve seen the affect not simply of what they imagine occurred to them initially but additionally the affect of the way in which he then behaved. It has been fairly laborious.”
Mr Salmond was acquitted in 2020 of all sexual assault costs made in opposition to him. Throughout his trial, his defence argued that his behaviour was generally inappropriate however not felony.
When he was first minister, Ms Sturgeon was his protege, shut ally and deputy earlier than succeeding him after the 2014 independence referendum. However they fell out spectacularly over the allegations in opposition to him.
Alex and Moira depart the Scottish Parliament chamber after the vote to elect him as first minister in 2007. Pic: Reuters
In her dramatic assertion, issued by legal professionals representing her, Mrs Salmond mentioned: “My late husband, Alex Salmond, died on 12 October 2024. His memorial service was solely six weeks in the past.
“I, and the remainder of the household, proceed to grieve. Life won’t ever be the identical for any of us.”
After which she mentioned: “In latest days, it has subsequently triggered me and the broader household nice misery to learn the feedback of those that appear decided to wreck his fame even in loss of life.
“It’s tough for us to grasp what motivates these interventions, particularly when such feedback are made within the information that Alex can not defend himself as he will surely have achieved.
“These attacking him should know that the regulation doesn’t permit us, his household, to guard his fame from being defamed now that he’s gone.”
Learn extra:
‘Non-recent’ allegations against Salmond sent to police
Alex Salmond took legal action against Scottish government
Handling of Salmond harassment claims ‘seriously flawed’
Her assertion continued: “Assaults by the residing on the useless will appear to many as deeply unfair. My want, and honest hope, is that these assaults will now cease.
“I’m subsequently asking these concerned to recognise that each one they’re doing is inflicting harm and ache to his household. From this level on, please let Alex relaxation in peace.”
Moira Salmond (centre) leaves the funeral service for her husband. Pic: PA
Shortly earlier than Mrs Salmond’s assertion, present First Minister John Swinney was requested in a BBC interview about Ms Sturgeon’s feedback within the Monetary Occasions about Mr Salmond’s behaviour.
He replied: “I believe it is fairly effectively documented that Alex could possibly be fairly brisk with folks and generally all of us witnessed that. And generally all of us needed to say look, that is not on. And that is the way in which it was.”
The Salmonds met within the Seventies when Moira was his boss on the Scottish Workplace in London. She labored within the Division of Agriculture and Fisheries when he joined as an assistant economist. They married in 1981.
Some 17 years older than Mr Salmond, she has been described as probably the most enigmatic figures in Scottish public life. She stayed resolutely within the background and, till now, silent.
In her solely interview, in 1990, she advised the Sunday Publish: “I am no Glenys Kinnock. I married Alex, not politics. That is his life and I’m blissful to be within the background. I share his convictions, however one politician within the household is sort of sufficient.”
When he confronted the sexual misconduct allegations she was mentioned to have been livid that his former allies and colleagues turned in opposition to him in a case that in the end resulted in his acquittal on all costs.
Ms Salmond in a uncommon public look, far left, when Andy Murray gained Wimbledon in 2013. Pic: PA
However regardless of her anger she remained at their residence, a transformed mill in Strichen, Aberdeenshire, throughout his court docket appearances, showing solely as soon as by his aspect on the ultimate day of his trial in Edinburgh.
Constantly shy of public appearances, there was one notable exception. When Andy Murray gained Wimbledon in 2013 she pulled a big saltire from her purse as she and her husband sat behind David Cameron within the royal field.
