The widow of Alex Salmond – who avoided public life for more than 40 years – has dramatically broken her silence and condemned attacks on her late husband.
Moira Salmond, 87, said the attacks had caused her and her family “great distress, hurt and pain” and were “deeply unfair”. And she pleaded: “Let Alex rest in peace.”
In a powerful and deeply emotional public statement, she did not mention Nicola Sturgeon by name, but her plea came after Ms Sturgeon criticised Mr Salmond‘s conduct.
In an interview with the Financial Times, Ms Sturgeon – who succeeded Mr Salmond as Scotland‘s first minister in 2014 – said: “He would be really rough on people. Many times I intervened to stop him.”
And on women who brought harassment claims against him, she added: “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.”
Mr Salmond was acquitted in 2020 of all sexual assault charges made against him. During his trial, his defence argued that his behaviour was sometimes inappropriate but not criminal.
When he was first minister, Ms Sturgeon was his protege, close ally and deputy before succeeding him after the 2014 independence referendum. But they fell out spectacularly over the allegations against him.
In her dramatic statement, issued by lawyers representing her, Mrs Salmond said: “My late husband, Alex Salmond, died on 12 October 2024. His memorial service was only six weeks ago.
“I, and the rest of the family, continue to grieve. Life will never be the same for any of us.”
And then she said: “In recent days, it has therefore caused me and the wider family great distress to read the comments of those who seem determined to damage his reputation even in death.
“It is difficult for us to…
