How Alex Salmond’s death could trigger another civil war inside a divided SNP as Fergus Ewing hits out at ‘malevolent and wicked campaign to discredit him’
Even in death Alex Salmond is still having an impact on Scottish politics. The fallout from his untimely death at the weekend aged 69 could have serious percussions on politics in Scotland in the here and now above all for the SNP.
Key to the issue are the allegations of sexual misconduct against Mr Salmond of which he was acquitted and also how the new independence party he founded can survive without its central figure.
The sheer hatred some Salmond supporters expressed for former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her supporters was startling even by the low standards of online discourse – the politest reportable word used was “betrayal”.
Behind the viciousness of some online comments major figures expressed a very real feeling that the leader that delivered most for the SNP had been very poorly served by the party.
In an extended obituary to be published in The Inverness Courier tomorrow morning by Mr Salmond’s friend and colleague Fergus Ewing said he would be looking to “obtain truth and justice”.
He said: “It is not at all a matter of clearing his name. His name was cleared when he trounced the Scottish government in his judicial review and then when he was acquitted of the charges that were brought against him. It is about justice.”
Mr Ewing has already been suspended for refusing to tow the party line on and said he would go against the party whip again – something he has done repeatedly on several issues.
Those who saw Mr Ewing in parliament in recent years will know that this is not an empty threat meanwhile there is still a legal case before the courts in Mr Salmond’s name against the SNP government.
Kenny MacAskill, the former justice secretary and acting leader of the Alba Party, said he hopes Mr Salmond’s family chooses to continue the case against the government.
That means the party would be labouring under not just under a case Mr Salmond brought to the Court of Session seeking a reported £3 million in damages and loss of earnings but also the ongoing cloud of Operation Branchform - an investigation into alleged SNP financial impropriety.
The latter investigation has seen both Ms Sturgeon and her husband questioned at length by detectives.
Added to that the huge decline in support for the SNP – evidenced at the general election it lost 39 seats – means the party will need to claw back credibility.
It will be doing so amid some of the biggest public sector funding cuts for years, embroiled in two legal cases directly related to alleged actions by Ms Sturgeon’s government and husband so it can ill-afford a war between Salmond supporters and Sturgeon supporters.
Yet that is what looks like happening.
Mr Ewing said: “It was a malevolent and wicked campaign to discredit him, get him charged, prosecuted then convicted and jailed. Had they succeeded, he would, I fear, have died in a prison cell.”
Mr MacAskill said: "The actions of individuals and later administrations undoubtedly took their toll upon him. Courts will still rightly decide upon the actions of individuals whose behaviour towards him was deplorable and shameful.”
