Alex Salmond launches legal action against Scottish Government as he seeks £3m in damages

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Alex Salmond has launched fresh legal action against the Scottish Government.The Former SNP First Minister is reportedly seeking damages and loss of earnings of £3 million.Salmond took the government to court in 2019 over the mishandling of harassment complaints.He has already won half a million pounds in costs for the case.Salmond was cleared of sexual assault charges in a criminal trial in 2020.The Alba Party leader has reportedly lodged a Court of Session petition alleging "misfeasance" by civil servants.He is expected to give a statement later on Friday.The Herald reported that a hearing relating to the civil action took place on Thursday.The court also confirmed to the newspaper that the case is known as Alex Salmond vs Scottish Ministers.The Scottish Government had a botched investigation into Salmond in 2018.This came after two female staff members complained about his behaviour.When the investigation was challenged by Salmond in a judicial review at the Court of Session, it was proven to be unlawful, unfair and "tainted by apparent bias".It came out that the investigating officer had previously contacted the accusers which tainted the investigation.Salmond led the SNP for 20 years between 1990 and 2000, and 2004 and 2014.

He was First Minister between 2007 and 2014.A Holyrood committee was set up to look into the Scottish Government's handling of the harassment claims made against him.Salmond said when giving evidence that people close to his successor Nicola Sturgeon had plotted against him and should be sacked.He also accused Sturgeon of breaking the ministerial code by misleading parliament during the investigation.Breaking the ministerial code is usually considered a case for resigning.Sturgeon had already