Angus Robertson raised perceived ‘inappropriateness’ with Alex Salmond

Former SNP Westminster leader Angus Robertson has confirmed he had an informal conversation with Alex Salmond about perceived inappropriateness towards female staff at Edinburgh Airport in 2009.

In a letter to the Holyrood committee investigating the botched investigation into harassment complaints against the former first minister, Robertson said he was contacted about “unspecified behaviour” by a manager at the airport.

Salmond, who was first minister at the time, denied acting inappropriately when Robertson raised the matter with him.

Robertson also said he had had no interactions with Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Government officials or special advisers regarding any allegations or formal complaints about Salmond.

The committee had written to the former SNP group leader at Westminster seeking any information he may have relevant to its remit.

It is investigating what went wrong with the Scottish Government’s handling of complaints made about Salmond which led to it paying out over £500,000 in legal costs after the Court of Session ruled its procedures were ‘unlawful’.

In his reply, Robertson said he had “no relevant information” regarding the committee’s remit.

But he added: “Since the matter has been raised in the committee, and reported elsewhere, it is probably worth taking time to address one instance where unspecified behaviour was mentioned to me.

“In 2009 I was called by an Edinburgh Airport manager about Alex Salmond’s perceived “inappropriateness” towards female staff at the airport. I was asked if I could informally broach the subject with Mr Salmond to make him aware of this perception.

“I raised the matter directly with Mr Salmond, who denied he had acted inappropriately in any way. I communicated back to the Edinburgh Airport manager that a conversation had happened.

“The matter being resolved, and without a formal complaint having been made, it was not reported further.”