Former first minister Alex Salmond has resigned from the SNP, amid allegations of sexual harassment.
In a video released on his Twitter page, the former Gordon MP said he had tendered his resignation to avoid “internal division” within the SNP if First Minister Nicola Sturgeon bowed to pressure to suspend his membership.
Mr Salmond – who has been a member of the SNP for 45 years- said: “It seems obvious that Nicola feels under pressure from other political parties to suspend me from SNP membership given recent party precedents.
“For my part I’ve always thought it a very poor idea to suspend any party member on the basis of complaints or allegations. Innocent until proven guilty is central to our concept of justice.
“However I did not come into politics to facilitate opposition attacks on the SNP and with parliament returning next week I have tendered my resignation to remove this line of opposition attack.
“Most of all I’m conscious that if the party felt forced into suspending me it would cause substantial internal division.”
Mr Salmond said it was his “absolute intention” to reapply for membership once he has cleared his name, and urged supporters not to relinquish theirs.
He adds that his primary focus is now the judicial review to challenge the Scottish Government’s handling of the complaint – and, having received messages of support from across the political spectrum, revealed has now set up a Crowdfunding page to help him do that.
Any money left over from the case will be donated to good causes around Scotland.
