Police Scotland has confirmed they are investigating a new allegation of sexual assault against Alex Salmond, the former First Minister of Scotland. The claim, described as “non-recent,” was made by a woman following Salmond’s death last month.
Salmond, who was 69 at the time of his passing, suffered a fatal heart attack while attending a youth leadership conference in North Macedonia. The former Scottish National Party (SNP) leader later founded the pro-independence Alba party after a public and political fallout with his successor, Nicola Sturgeon, over her independence strategy and the Scottish government’s investigations into sexual harassment allegations against him.
In 2020, Salmond was acquitted of 12 charges, including attempted rape, sexual assault, and indecent assault, following a criminal trial. The jury returned a “not proven” verdict on one additional charge of sexual assault with intent to rape, a unique outcome in Scottish law. During the trial, Salmond expressed regret about not being “more careful with people’s personal space,” while his defence lawyer, Gordon Jackson, described his behaviour as “inappropriate” and “touchy-feely” under cross-examination.
Police Scotland provided a statement on the recent report: “We can confirm that we have received a report of a non-recent sexual assault. The information is being assessed.” The investigation is in its preliminary stages, and authorities have not disclosed further details.
Salmond’s political and personal legacy remains complex, marked by his leadership in Scotland’s pro-independence movement and the controversies that followed. The latest report adds to a series of challenges that defined the final years of his public life.
