I grieved for Salmond four or five years ago, says Sturgeon
Share:
Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she grieved for Alex Salmond four or five years before his death following the breakdown of their relationship. The pair formed one of the most successful political partnerships in UK history, winning every election campaign led by one or both of them north of the border since 2007.
But after allegations of harassment were made against Mr Salmond by two women during his time as first minister, the relationship between the two began to deteriorate before severing completely. Mr Salmond was cleared of a number of charges of sexual misconduct including attempted rape following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in 2020.
He went on to become leader of the Alba Party, which became a frequent critic of his former party and former protegee. Mr Salmond died suddenly of a heart attack in October in North Macedonia at the age of 69. Asked if his death changed anything for her, Ms Sturgeon told the Financial Times: “No… I came to the conclusion that I probably grieved for Alex four years, five years ago.”.
The former SNP leader – who stood down abruptly in 2023 – added she knew some of the women who had complained against Mr Salmond. “I’ve seen the impact not just of what they believe happened to them initially, but also the impact of the way he then behaved. It’s been pretty hard,” she said.
The Glasgow Southside MSP – who has not yet declared her intention for the 2026 Holyrood election – did not attend a public memorial service for Mr Salmond at St Giles’ Cathedral in Edinburgh in November, instead going to the funeral of her friend, the comedian Janey Godley, in Glasgow on the same day.
