![\"dailyrecord\"](\"https:\/\/www.dailyrecord.co.uk\/assets\/dailyrecord\/images\/premium-byline-dailyrecord.svg\"\/)
<\/p>\nThe Sunday Mail is today revealing communications appearing to show senior party operatives conspiring against ex-leader.<\/p>\n
04:30, 19 Apr 2026<\/p>\n
![\"Alex](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_Alex-Salmond-court-case.jpg\")
<\/p>\n
Alex Salmond leaves the High Court in Edinburgh after he was cleared of attempted rape and a series of sexual assaults(Image: PA)<\/p>\n
Bombshell text messages showing high ranking SNP figures conspiring against former leader Alex Salmond<\/a> are today revealed by the Sunday Mail.<\/p>\n The tranche of communications – which were previously before a court but not aired publicly – appear to show senior party operatives involved in a campaign to see the former First Minister<\/a> jailed for sex offences.<\/p>\n The messages cover a four month period between September 2018 and January 2019 during which an \u201cunlawful\u201d and \u201cbiased\u201d Scottish Government<\/a> misconduct probe against Salmond collapsed, and police began a criminal investigation.<\/p>\n The late SNP<\/a> leader was ultimately cleared of 13 charges at Edinburgh High Court in March 2020 leading to claims of a plot to destroy him.<\/p>\n In a pre-trial court hearing Salmond\u2019s<\/a> defence lawyer Gordon Jackson KC, told Lady Dorrian there were text messages between complainants, Scottish government officials and SNP officials that raised questions about an orchestration of some of the allegations.<\/p>\n Alex Salmond elbow bumps Gordon Jackson QC as he leaves the High Court in Edinburgh (Image: Andrew Milligan\/PA Wire)<\/p>\n Jackson sought to get some of that material – which is contained within the documents – admitted into evidence.<\/p>\n He told Dorrian the defence believed \u201cthere was a concerted effort made by people in the government<\/a> to influence the process, to get it as best they could in terms of criminal prosecution\u201d.<\/p>\n He alleged those efforts were motivated by revenge because Salmond<\/a> had won his judicial review in January 2019, after the Scottish government admitted it had botched an internal inquiry into two sexual harassment complaints against him.<\/p>\n Dorrian refused to allow much of that material to be used in court but allowed other messages to be admitted as evidence.<\/p>\n Texts reveal senior SNP figures plotting against Salmond<\/p>\n The messages reveal:<\/p>\n Senior figures privately doubted their experiences amounted to criminal offences.One woman furious her name had been given to detectives without her consent.SNP management discussing attempts to round up potential complainers. One complainer angrily demands ‘how have they got my name?’ after it is given to police<\/p>\n Former SNP Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill<\/a> has called for a police investigation.<\/p>\n He said: \u201cI\u2019ve always believed individuals at the heart of the SNP and Scottish Government conspired to bring Alex<\/a> down because they were worried he was going to make a return to Holyrood and they didn\u2019t want that to happen. These messages confirm my suspicions.<\/p>\n \u201cThere should be a police<\/a> inquiry and public inquiry into this entire affair, it strikes at the heart of our democracy.\u201d<\/p>\n SNP operatives appearing to try to round up complainers<\/p>\n In the text exchanges believed to have been sent on WhatsApp one senior figure – who was named on charges against Salmond<\/a> – is asked whether she has \u201cAn Alex story\u201d.<\/p>\n She responds: \u201cIf I do I don\u2019t remember – wandering hands, some shouting, but not really…I think I wasn\u2019t his type…\u201d<\/p>\n Another woman – also named on charges – states: \u201cHow have they got my name? Must be ****. I\u2019ll kill her.\u201d<\/p>\n Group chat shows one person privately doubting if their experience amounted to a criminal offence<\/p>\n After news breaks that Salmond has been charged in January 2019, one woman complained: \u201cPolice say mine not on list as. It enough evidence(sic). Yet. Felt like asking what they need and I\u2019ll get it for them!\u201d<\/p>\n Another woman who appeared to have spoken to police states: \u201cI speak for myself here – I don\u2019t think what happened to me would constitute an offence.\u201d<\/p>\n In another message she added: \u201cTbh, what happened to me didn\u2019t particularly bother me at the time but I felt it was important to back up the other women.\u201d<\/p>\n In response another senior SNP figure said: \u201cYeah I\u2019m in the same boat in terms of backing others.\u201d<\/p>\n One says they are ‘f*****g glad’ Salmond ‘is going to jail’<\/p>\n On the same day Salmond was charged one of his accusers writes: \u201cHe is going to jail. And I\u2019m ******* glad…was considering briefing media…good move by police to do this now then we are all protected by contempt of court.\u201d<\/p>\n Another text reads: \u201cJeez. Think **** is in trouble\u2026 Salmond isn\u2019t going to stop until he gets her and he\u2019s bringing down Nicola on the way.\u201d<\/p>\n Some of the messages which can now be revealed were previously alluded to in 2021 by Tory MP and Salmond ally David Davis in a Commons speech in which he alleged a plot to take down the former FM.<\/p>\n In one exchange the week after police announce an investigation into Salmond Compliance Officer McCann and Chief Operating Officer Sue Ruddick discuss an attempt to find potential victims.<\/p>\n Murrell on Salmond: ‘The more front he’s having to firefight on the better’<\/p>\n They appear disappointed that someone who said they could deliver \u201c5 folk by the end of that week\u201d had \u201coverreached\u201d and come up short.<\/p>\n In relation to one woman McCann states: \u201cI think one other said to her that she would. But then didn\u2019t…Or at least, not yet.\u201d<\/p>\n When a senior SNP staffer suggests women involved in Salmond\u2019s criminal case meet up, one woman said: \u201cI\u2019d only be interested if **** wasn\u2019t there. To be honest I\u2019m beginning to feel a bit pressured by the whole thing rather than supported\u201d.<\/p>\n In January 2019 Ruddick told McCann she hoped one of the complainers would be \u201csickened enough get back in the game\u201d after Salmond won his court challenge against the Scottish Government probe.<\/p>\n ‘I feel pressured rather than supported’<\/p>\n In one message a senior SNP figure is referred to as convening a \u201ccouncil of war\u201d.<\/p>\n In another Sue Ruddick writes to Peter Murrell: \u201c**** seems up for the fight. Keen to see him go to jail.\u201d<\/p>\n In a text exchange Peter Murrell appears disappointed with McCann after he was dispatched to talk to a complainer. He said: \u201cIan has just returned from his chat with ****. forgot to ask if she knew any of the charges involved her or indeed whether ok for us to pass her complaint to us over to police. All in all he\u2019s pissed me off with his attitude again.\u201d<\/p>\n Referring to Salmond he also said: \u201cTBH the more fronts he\u2019s having to firefight on the better for all complainers.\u201d<\/p>\n Ex-SNP chief exec Peter Murrell appears disappointed with compliance officer Ian McCann<\/p>\n A jury of eight women and five men at the high court in Edinburgh cleared Salmond of 13 charges of attempted rape, sexual assault and indecent assault after six hours of deliberations.<\/p>\n It prompted immediate recriminations and demands for resignations within the SNP.<\/p>\n The nine women involved in the charges were all current or former Scottish government officials, or SNP politicians.<\/p>\n The criminal case came after Nicola Sturgeon\u2019s government lost a judicial review into its handling of an internal review of two misconduct complaints against him in 2018.<\/p>\n It has previously been reported a message sent by Leslie Evans, at the time the Scottish government\u2019s top civil servant, read: \u201cWe may have lost the battle, but we will win the war.\u201d<\/p>\n An SNP spokesperson said: \u201cThese issues, including the question of WhatsApps between women, have been examined repeatedly over the last seven years. The SNP’s focus is on continuing to deliver for the people of Scotland.”<\/p>\n Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community!<\/p>\n Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today.<\/p>\n You’ll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland.<\/p>\n No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team.<\/p>\n All you have to do is click here<\/a>, select ‘Join Community’ and you’re in!<\/p>\n We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don\u2019t like our community, you can check out any time you like.<\/p>\n To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose ‘exit group’.<\/p>\n If you\u2019re curious, you can read our Privacy Notice.<\/a><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_JS209494000jpeg.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"salmond](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/1_Untitled-1.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"salmond](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_Untitled-4.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"salmond](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_round-up.jpg\")
![\"salmond](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_round-up2.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"salmond](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_Untitled-10.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"salmond](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_Untitled-8.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"salmond](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_Untitled-11.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"salmond](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_Untitled-3.jpg\")
<\/p>\n![\"salmond](\"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/britain\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/04\/0_Untitled-12.jpg\")
<\/p>\n