Craig Murray: Alba blocked Holyrood bid because of jail time
Mr Murray, who believed the prosecution of the former First Minister was unjust, attended two days of the trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in March 2020 and later wrote about it on his website.
Three judges, including the trial judge, the Lord Justice Clerk Lady Dorrian — the second most senior judge in Scotland — ruled he was in contempt of court. They said there had been a risk of jigsaw identification: publishing material which, when combined with other publicly available information, could have identified complainers.
At his sentencing, Lady Dorrian claimed Mr Murray appeared to have been 'relishing' the potential disclosure of identities, despite court orders granting the women lifelong anonymity.
Mr Salmond — who died in October last year — was cleared of all charges at the trial.
In a speech to Alba members shortly after Mr Murray was jailed, the former first minister stood by his friend.
He said: 'In the treatment of Craig Murray, the Scottish judicial system has shamed itself internationally.
'Recently our country welcomed delegates from some 200 nations and territories to our major city of Glasgow, to discuss the future of the planet. What would these delegates have thought of us, if they knew that we were a nation which jailed journalists, particularly one of the intelligence, track record and calibre of Craig Murray?'
Posting on X, Mr Murray said: 'I was given two reasons I cannot stand for Alba. My prison sentence was one, my standing for the Workers Party in Blackburn was the other.
'I only stood, on Gaza, after full discussion and agreement with Alex Salmond. I intend to fight this.'
Mr Murray said he intended to fight the decision.
I was given 2 reasons I cannot stand for Alba. My prison sentence was one, my standing for the Workers' Party in Blackburn was the other.
I only stood, on Gaza, after full discussion and agreement with Alex Salmond.
I intend to fight this. Fellow Alba members please ask your… https://t.co/8Qzus3PbKt — Craig Murray (@CraigMurrayOrg) June 25, 2025
READ MORE
READ MORE
In another tweet, Mr Murray said he believed the party's decision may have been a bid to establish a 'precedent they hope to use against a bigger figure than me…'
Tommy Sheridan is also bidding to become an Alba candidate (Image: NQ) Though he did not name anyone in particular, last week Tommy Sheridan revealed that he had put his name forward in the hope of being selected as an Alba candidate.
The former MSP was sentenced to three years in prison in 2011 for committing perjury in the £200,000 defamation case he won against the News of the World in 2006. The now-defunct tabloid had claimed he visited a swingers' club.
The scandal led to Mr Sheridan quitting as leader of the SSP and forming the rival party Solidarity.
At the time of his sentencing, Alba leader Kenny MacAskill was the SNP Government's justice secretary.
Alba has been approached for comment.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Scotsman
25 minutes ago
- Scotsman
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray gives wealth tax verdict as deputy prime minister Angela Rayner pushes for move
The Scottish Secretary said a tax on the highest income earners would lead to 'flight' of wealthier people abroad. Sign up to our Politics newsletter Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Scottish Secretary Ian Murray has dismissed calls from within the Labour Party to introduce a wealth tax, insisting it 'doesn't work', as the UK government comes under growing pressure to plug a £51 billion black hole in the public finances. Speaking at an event at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe on Thursday, Mr Murray said the cost of bringing in the wealth tax would be 'huge' and would lead to the 'flight' of wealthier people abroad. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Scottish Secretary Ian Murray is against a wealth tax. The assertion comes after former Labour shadow chancellor Anneliese Dodds said the Treasury should consider a wealth tax. She is among a growing number of the party's MPs calling for further wealth taxes to help raise money. A leaked memo previously showed Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner pushed for taxes targeting wealth ahead of the Spring Statement in March. Scottish Secretary Ian Murray | PA It has also become popular among unions and other left-wing parties, including the Greens and Jeremy Corbyn's new, unnamed party. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The Scotsman reported earlier this year that Scottish ministers were poised to ask the UK government for the power to introduce wealth taxes after the next Holyrood election. SNP Finance Secretary Shona Robison has called on Chancellor Rachel Reeves to 'seriously examine' introducing wealth taxes to ensure further boosts to defence spending does not come at the expense of drastic cuts to public services. The Bank of England said Ms Reeves's £25 billion National Insurance raid, announced in her first Budget last year, had contributed to sluggish growth and pushed up food prices, as it announced the fifth interest rates cut in a year on Thursday. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The UK's central bank chose to reduce the base rate to 4 per cent from 4.25 per cent, as it forecast inflation would rise to 4 per cent next month. Speculation has grown that Ms Reeves will be forced to raise taxes in her autumn Budget. Chancellor Rachel Reeves | Jane Barlow/Press Association Mr Murray was asked about the wider issue of wealth taxes while appearing as a guest on Matt Forde's Political Party show during the Fringe. Asked if those around the Cabinet table were coming round to the view there should be a wealth tax, the Scottish Secretary said: 'Well no, it doesn't work. You see that – the Laffer curve is there for everyone to see. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad 'So yes, you could bring in a wealth tax because it might make you feel principally better. 'e might bring in a few hundred million pounds, but the cost of doing that would be huge because there is just flight, whether we like it or not. 'The French did it really badly, the Norwegians really badly. So the places that have done a wealth tax have rowed back from it on the basis that it doesn't raise them any money. 'So every single principled decision we have to make has got to be on the basis of does it raise more money, is it fair, is it equitable, will it resolve the situation? If the answer to any of those questions is no, we shouldn't do it.'
The National
35 minutes ago
- The National
John Swinney is appealing for five more years of managing devolution
In essence it is a plea for more of the same. A plea for at least five more years of managing, and often failing to manage, Donald Dewar's devolution trap. A plea to allow the SNP to cling to power and beg our Westminster betters and masters for another referendum in the sure and certain knowledge that they will just say no. A plea that will see Mr Unwin having to remain an SNP activist for the foreseeable future – possibly for the rest of his life. Mr Unwin claims that John Swinney's leadership has 'brought a degree of honesty back to the independence movement', which he thinks has been 'sadly lacking over recent years'. This is a little odd, as Mr Unwin was an enthusiastic supporter of the former First Minister Humza Yousaf appearing in support of him in social media posts. As is usual in support of the Holyrood status quo, Mr Unwin details the usual list of 'free' stuff. Prescriptions, baby boxes, bus passes etc etc. This list, paid for by taxation, did not impress the electorate in July 2024 at the UK General Election and will not impress them much more in May 2026. Is this the best we can do? The most telling aspect of Mr Unwin's case is the sentence 'How do we achieve independence? In a large part, the process is not as important as people think. Certainly not important enough to waste all our time and energy debating'. If we have no idea of the process, how in God's name we will never reach the end result? Glenda Burns Glasgow IF Mr Swinney thinks that Westminster will grant a Section 30 if we get a majority of SNP MSPs next year, he is either delusional or he's taking the independent movement for mugs. If the situation after the election is just one short of a SNP majority, Westminster will use it as clear evidence of Scotland not wanting or being interested in independence even if Alba, Greens or any other pro-independence party get elected John Swinney has stated that only SNP MSPs will count. Why? Is he going to ignore other parties that want independence for the sake of his ego? We need all the help we can muster in 2026. Every pro-independence MSP must count towards a majority and John Swinney must state that loud and clear and not give Westminster another stick to beat us with. M McDermott Old Kilpatrick FOLLOWING comments on The National website attacking John Swinney and the SNP leadership in general, I decided to ask these critics just what, exactly, was the workable, creditable alternative plan they had to achieve independence for Scotland. After that I was subject to some highly personal abuse, questioning my intelligence, character, judgement and this did indeed include swearing. Nonetheless, not one of these persons could quote or tell me what alternative plans they had. True, there was one suggestion, that of Holyrood declaring UDI. However, as I did point out, this was hardly a resounding success for Ian Smith and his government, I doubt it would work for Scotland. I may well have kicked over a hornet's nest for asking such questions, but at the end of the day I have still to hear just what, exactly, an alternative plan to that suggested by the SNP leadership is. Which rather proves my point, I think, that those who can do, and those who can't criticise. Andrew Haddow Glasgow TONY Kime's letter highlighting and listing many of the SNP's achievements in government should be pinned up in every MSP's constituency office as a reminder to visiting constituents and ourselves of the many achievements of the SNP in Government. Over the next nine months of campaigning, we should never forget those achievements and as the Government, we should concentrate on improving the services of 'devolved matters', which we have powers over. Yes, we must continue to highlight how much Scotland is being short-changed by Labour at Westminster, but we must campaign on the positives of our achievements. Catriona C Clark Falkirk WHAT next? Since the Labour government has increased the tax on employers, some small businesses can't make a profit. The extra tax in some cases amounts to their profit margin. They have to make cuts or go out of business. Public-sector bodies – NHS, schools, universities etc – are worse off. So much for Labour wanting to increase productivity and create employment. Let's face it, the UK is broke, £2 trillion in debt, and that will never be paid off unless something radical is done. Since a lot of the debt is owed to ourselves, the Bank of England, who just printed it, 'funny money,' could it be written off? Either way, what a mess. This all stems from the Thatcher privatisation of all the country's assets. Also, Blair entering into illegal wars trying to punch above our weight side by side with the USA. Either way, we need a total rethink. The UK is not a superpower. The sooner we realise that, the better. Westminster need to live within their means and stop wasting billions. Meanwhile, Scotland has the answer for ourselves with independence. Take control of all our assets and run our country the way it should be for the benefit of all in Scotland. Herbert Petrie Dyce, Aberdeen
Leader Live
an hour ago
- Leader Live
Wealth tax will not work, says Scottish Secretary
Ian Murray told an audience at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe that the policy would not work. Speaking to comedian Matt Forde, the Labour minister said he 'wished' it worked but suggested wealthy people would leave the country. Some within Labour, including former leader Lord Neil Kinnock, Welsh First Minister Baroness Eluned Morgan and former equality minister Anneliese Dodds, have backed the idea. It has also become popular among unions and other left-wing parties, including the Greens and Jeremy Corbyn's new, unnamed party. On Thursday, Mr Murray said there was 'no silver bullet' to the economic issues facing the country, saying 'if you pull one leaver you have to push another' in a reference to tax rises and public spending cuts. He said while some UK Government decisions have been 'unpalatable', 'things would have been even more unpalatable' if they did not make tough choices. Asked if a wealth tax could be a solution to the issue, the Scottish Secretary said: 'No, it doesn't work. The Laffer curve (a theory showing the relationship between taxation and a government's revenue) is there for everyone to see. 'So, yes, you can bring in a wealth tax, because it might make you feel principally better. 'You might bring in £200 million but the cost of doing that would be huge because there is just flight, whether we like that or not.' Mr Murray said the tax had failed in other countries which, he said, had since gone on to roll back their decisions. He said: 'Every single principal decision we have to make has got to be on the basis of does it raise more money? 'Is it fair? Is it equitable? And will it resolve the situation? 'If the answer to any of those questions is no, we should not do it. 'So the wealth tax, and honestly, the wealth tax has been spent about 500 times over already for every single issue – just doing well tax, it doesn't work. 'I wish it did, but it doesn't.' Mr Murray added that the 'only real palatable option' was to grow the economy.
