Scotland ex-leader Salmond quits over sexual misconduct claims

Two claims made against Alex Salmond dating back to 2013, when he was in office

Alex Salmond, the former nationalist leader who took Scotland to the brink of independence in 2014, has said that he has resigned from the Scottish National Party (SNP) amid sexual misconduct accusations. The move comes after it emerged last week that two complaints were raised in January against the former first minister alleging sexual harassment while he was in office in 2013. He has fiercely denied the claims and is taking court action against the Scottish Government to contest the complaints process activated against him.

But in a video message posted on social media Salmond announced he would quit the SNP to prevent “substantial internal division” and attacks from rival political parties. “I did not come into politics to facilitate opposition attacks on the SNP and, with parliament returning next week, I have tendered my resignation to remove this line of opposition attack,” he said.