Scottish Parliament announces which MSPs will investigate handling of harassment complaints against Alex Salmond

Scottish Parliament - Image credit: Holyrood

The Scottish Parliament has announced which MSPs will investigate the handling of harassment complaints against former first minister Alex Salmond.

The new cross-party Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints will have nine members: four SNP MSPs, Alasdair Allan, Angela Constance, Linda Fabiani and Maureen Watt; Conservatives Donald Cameron and Margaret Mitchell; Labour MSP Jackie Baillie; Alison Johnstone for the Greens; and Alex Cole-Hamilton for the Lib Dems.

As already announced, the convener will be an SNP MSP and the deputy convener will be one of the two Conservative members.

The remit of the committee is described as “to consider and report on the actions of the First Minister, Scottish Government officials and special advisers in dealing with complaints about Alex Salmond, former First Minister, considered under the Scottish Government’s ‘Handling of harassment complaints involving current or former ministers’ procedure and actions in relation to the Scottish Ministerial Code”.

The committee will be put before MSPs for approval tomorrow, but it is not expected to begin its investigation until after the conclusion of a criminal case against Alex Salmond to avoid potentially prejudicing court proceedings.

Alex Salmond has been charged with 14 offences, but he denies all criminality.

Commenting on the formation of the committee, a Scottish Parliament spokesperson said: “The Bureau agreed to recommend to the Parliament the remit and membership of a new committee of inquiry.

“A motion has been laid and will be considered by Parliament tomorrow.”