Alex Salmond cleared of historic sex assault claim by Police Scotland

The late former first minister Alex Salmond has been cleared of a historic sexual assault claim.

Police Scotland said the enquiries into the allegations made after his death were carried out and no further action will be taken.

Salmond died in October 2024 in North Macedonia after suffering a massive heart attack while attending a conference.

Following his death, Police Scotland confirmed a non-recent sexual assault allegation had been made against the late Alba Party leader.

On Thursday, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: “Following a report of a non-recent sexual assault, enquiries were carried out and no further action will be taken.”

Salmond served as first minister under the SNP from 2007 to 2014 and led the party through the independence referendum.

He resigned from the SNP in 2018 when allegations of sexual misconduct emerged.

The following year, he was charged with 14 offences, including two counts of attempted rape. He was acquitted of all charges in March 2020 following a two-week trial.

He successfully took the Scottish Government to court to prove that the way civil servants handled complaints against him was tainted with bias, receiving more than £500,000 in legal compensation.

In 2023, he launched a fresh legal bid against the Scottish Government over its handling of abuse allegations towards him.

He had accused his former deputy and first minister Nicola Sturgeon and other senior women in Government of misconduct in public office.

Salmond returned to politics in 2021, becoming leader of the newly formed Alba Party.