Latest news with #ChristinaHendry
The Guardian
20 hours ago
- Politics
- The Guardian
Alex Salmond's niece criticises Nicola Sturgeon over claims in memoir
Alex Salmond's niece has accused Nicola Sturgeon of tarnishing her uncle's reputation when he is no longer able to defend himself in order to promote her memoir. Christina Hendry told BBC Radio Scotland on Monday: 'If my uncle was here today, these things would not be being said. I believe they're being said because he's not here to defend himself, as he would have done with every fibre of his being.' Sturgeon's political partnership with her predecessor as first minister, who died suddenly of a heart attack last October at the age of 69, dominates her memoir, Frankly, which was published last week. She describes tensions that existed between them long before their catastrophic falling out over her government's handling of sexual harassment complaints against him, claiming that he opposed equal marriage, overrode her concerns about releasing the Lockerbie bomber and had several extra-martial affairs. The former SNP leader stood trial in 2020 on 13 counts of sexual assault and was cleared of all charges, although a pattern of bullying and inappropriate behaviour towards younger female staff emerged in court. Asked what she believed was motivating Sturgeon, Hendry said: 'There's been a number of years that these things could have been said, and the timing of it now where she's released a book and is looking to publicise that, I think many people have thought that could be the case.' Sturgeon writes in Frankly that she 'agonised' about 'stirring up pain for [Salmond's] wife and family' but concluded 'I cannot let what he said stand unchallenged'. She addresses in detail the theory espoused by Salmond before his death that the harassment allegations were part of a conspiracy confected by Sturgeon's inner circle – but then advances her own theory that Salmond himself may have leaked the initial revelations to the Daily Record, a claim immediately refuted by the journalist who broke the story. Her treatment of Salmond in the memoir drew immediate fire from his allies last week, with some demanding retraction and an apology to his widow, Moira. On Sunday, Moira Salmond revealed that she had instructed lawyers to continue her late husband's legal action against the Scottish government over its botched handling of the investigation into the original sexual harassment allegations. She was reportedly galvanised by the claims made in Frankly. Hendry said: 'Our family are most definitely united on continuing the things that my uncle started before he passed. As a family, we are very close and we're very strong and we will continue to do anything we need to do to defend his name.' She also confirmed her plans to run for Holyrood next year for Alba, the party set up by Salmond in 2021 after he quit the SNP, which challenged its failure to deliver a second independence referendum. 'I intend to stand to both honour my uncles's legacy, but also because I understand a lot of frustrations that rural communities like the north-east have.'
Scottish Sun
a day ago
- Politics
- Scottish Sun
Alex Salmond's family vow to clear his name as ex-FM's widow set to sue Scottish Government
Christina Hendry fears the stress of defending himself had hastened his death 'FIGHT FOR TRUTH' Alex Salmond's family vow to clear his name as ex-FM's widow set to sue Scottish Government ALEX Salmond's niece has pledged to clear his name as it emerged his widow is suing the Scottish Government over its botched sexual harassment investigation. Moira Salmond, 88, has appointed lawyers to reactivate the ex-First Minister's case seeking reparations for his family after a judge ruled the probe against him was unlawful, unfair and tainted by bias. 3 Christina fears the stress of defending himself had hastened her uncle's death Credit: Andrew Barr 3 Moira Salmond during the public memorial service for her late husband Credit: PA Advertisement 3 The case is reportedly being bankrolled by wealthy friends of Mr Salmond Credit: Getty Allies claim the investigation, and subsequent criminal charges which were dismissed by a jury, hastened the SNP colossus's death from a heart attack aged 69 last year. His niece Christina Hendry, 30, told The Scottish Sun: 'I will do whatever it takes to continue my uncle's work and continuing to clear his name. 'My hope is that the truth comes to light. And that those who dismissed claims of this conspiracy theory are proven wrong.' Advertisement A source close to the family confirmed the case is in an 'adjustment period' where both sides make written pleadings. A top legal team has been hired, including a senior investigator. The case is reportedly being bankrolled by wealthy friends of Mr Salmond. He went on trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in 2020 and was acquitted of 14 charges of sexually assaulting nine women. Advertisement Christina told The Scottish Sun on Sunday how she fears the stress of defending himself and trying to prove the conspiracy had hastened his death. She also hit out at his successor Nicola Sturgeon for dragging his name 'through the dirt' to boost sales of her memoir. Asked how her aunt was coping with Ms Sturgeon's fresh criticism amid a blaze of publicity to promote her book, Christina said: 'She should not have to be going through this and neither should any of the family. Five of the biggest BOMBSHELL moments from Nicola Sturgeon's new memoir 'I find it very distasteful. In some ways it is quite cruel. 'She is using his name for relevance, to promote her book, to earn money — she could have said these things in the past few years. Advertisement 'She has chosen to wait until he is no longer here to defend himself. It's left to the family to deal with this and there's an element of cowardice to that.' The Scottish Government said: 'It would not be appropriate to comment on live litigation.'
Daily Mail
2 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Alex Salmond's family accuse 'cowardly' Nicola Sturgeon of 'cashing in' on his death with smears in new memoir
Alex Salmond 's niece has accused Nicola Sturgeon of 'cashing in' on his death by using smears about her uncle to flog her new book. Christina Hendry, 30, branded the former Scottish first minister's claims, which include attacks on his work ethic and references to alleged womanising, as 'cowardly'. She said it had been impossible to shield Mr Salmond's widow Moira, 88, from the accusations - and insisted that Ms Sturgeon would never have levelled them had her uncle still been alive. In the memoir - for which she will receive £300,000 - Ms Sturgeon claims that in the run-up to the 2014 referendum, Mr Salmond failed to read a key 650-page White Paper promoting independence. It is also alleged that he was 'implacably opposed' to gay marriage and was rumoured to have had 'consensual affairs' during his relationship with Moira. Responding to Ms Sturgeon's new memoir, Ms Henry said in an interview with The Sun: 'I find it very distasteful. In some ways it is quite cruel. 'She is using his name for relevance, to promote her book, to earn money — she could have said these things in the past few years. 'She has chosen to wait until he is no longer here to defend himself. It's left to the family to deal with this and there's an element of cowardice to that.' In the book, titled Frankly, Ms Sturgeon also alleges Mr Salmond sought revenge after she refused to intervene in the internal Scottish Government probe into allegations of sexual misconduct against him. Mr Salmond, who was first minister from 2007 to 2014, was cleared of 13 sexual offence counts at a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in March 2020. Earlier misconduct claims made against him by two women led to a massive falling out with his successor Ms Sturgeon and a split in the Nationalist movement. In 2018, Mr Salmond resigned from the SNP after the claims emerged and challenged a Scottish Government probe into them. His successful judicial review showed the in-house inquiry had been unfair, unlawful and 'tainted by apparent bias', and he was awarded £512,00 in legal costs. In an excerpt of her new memoir, Ms Sturgeon speaks of the impact of events on her relationship with Mr Salmond, stating how she initially believed their friendship could survive 'his thirst for revenge'. She added: 'Eventually, though, I had to face the fact that he was determined to destroy me. 'I was now engaged in mortal political combat with someone I knew to be both ruthless and highly effective. 'It was a difficult reality to reconcile myself to. So too was losing him as a friend. I went through what I can only describe as a grieving process.' Referring to the court case against Mr Salmond, Ms Sturgeon said that while he conceded that his behaviour towards women was at times inappropriate he failed to ever show 'contrition' for his actions. She also said he was prepared to repeatedly 'traumatise' the women at the centre of the complaints. In a furious response, Mr MacAskill said: 'Nicola Sturgeon is seeking to rewrite history and distorting the truth. Alex Salmond was vindicated it Scotland's High Court. 'It was Nicola Sturgeons Government which was found to have acted unlawfully procedurally unfairly and tainted with apparent bias. It was for that reason that enhanced expenses were awarded against the Government. 'Far from being some passive bystander Ms Sturgeon was at the centre of events that many see as a conspiracy. 'It's why there has to be an inquiry into the role of the Scottish Government in their actions against Alex Salmond and the cover up that has been ongoing ever since. 'History will judge her cruelly as her legacy is shown to be tawdry and failed but justice dictates that there is a full accounting for her role in this shameful episode.' The memoir also includes Ms Sturgeon's account of the moment when Mr Salmond first informed her of the allegations against him, stating that she was 'shocked' and 'felt sick' on hearing them. She has also insisted she was not the one who had leaked the outcome of the Scottish government investigation into her predecessor to the press - but, astonishingly suggested that Mr Salmond might have. Touching upon the ongoing impact of events and Mr Salmond's role in her life, Ms Sturgeon admitted she will never escape his shadow 'even in death'. Mr Salmond died on October 12 last year and Ms Sturgeon did not attend his funeral on October 29. Addressing the fallout in a BBC interview months before his death, Mr Salmond had said: 'A big regret that Nicola and I are no longer on speaking terms, and I seriously doubt if that's going to improve. 'Now, that's a great pity because I did indicate that you shouldn't say anything's for ever, but that's the way it looks and that's just the way it's going to be.' In other extracts, Ms Sturgeon discussed her arrest in 2023, describing it as 'mental torture', her miscarriage in 2010 and her sexuality, which she said is not 'binary'.
