Alex Salmond inquiry: Is MSPs’ probe pointless? – Helen Martin

Given Covid, Brexit and the independence debate, is this a good time for the Alex Salmond inquiry, asks Helen Martin.

Alex Salmond speaks outside the High Court in Edinburgh after he was cleared of a series of sexual assaults (Picture: Andrew Milligan/PA Wire)

COPING with Covid-19, Brexit, the Internal Market Bill, the survival of devolution, the economy, and the battle for independence (or opposition to it) makes this the most complex, difficult, dangerous period of politics Scotland has ever had to deal with.

And added to that is the Scottish Parliament’s investigation into the Scottish Government’s handling of the complaints against Alex Salmond, following his acquittal at a criminal trial.

Many SNP voters and even more unionists are demanding this goes ahead rapidly, either in favour of Salmond or in the hope that it reduces the support for independence.

I doubted the case too. I felt Salmond may have been flirtatious and made a few approaches, but I couldn’t understand why his alleged “victims” didn’t just slap him and tell him to **** off! Nor did I think he was guilty of assault.

But he can’t submit all the evidence he wants to give to the inquiry, and Nicola Sturgeon’s is submitted but held back partly because it could lead to the identification of the accusers.

Obviously, those involved in the Salmond inquiry are frustrated. And yes, I think we should all like to find the truth behind it all. But not now. This is a tough time in which to hold the inquiry. Isn’t there an option to postpone and put it on hold while dealing with Covid-19 plus urgent national and international priorities? And meanwhile have legals deal with the problem.

If establishing the truth requires recognising identities, is that legally do-able? If protecting identities blocks investigation, it can’t go ahead and the inquiry is pointless.

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