Millionaire rock drummer takes on Alex Salmond case against Scottish Government

The drummer of Scottish rockers Gun is to sue the Scottish Government on behalf of Alex Salmond’s widow.

Moira Salmond has assigned the legal rights of the case to drummer Paul McManus.

The Labour donor has made millions in aggregates and will underwrite the cost of the legal action related to the government’s handling of harassment claims against the former first minister.

The move follows discussions involving ex-Scottish Government minister Fergus Ewing MSP and introductions by Jack Irvine, a previous editor the Scottish Sun.

Former Conservative councillor John McLellan, who works at Irvine’s Media House International PR firm, will also work on the case, which will be handled by PBW Law.

McManus said: “I did not know the late Alex Salmond, and I disagreed with his politics, especially on the matter of Scottish independence. However, I strongly believe that those at the top of the SNP plotted against him and used levers of state which could have resulted in him being wrongly imprisoned.

“If the government, can do this to one of their own, what chance do we, Joe Public, have if they decide to target us.  I want to see those responsible held to account and to face consequences.”

Salmond, who led the Alba Party in the period running up to his death, was acquitted of a catalogue of charges brought against him in a criminal trial.

An inquiry cleared Nicola Sturgeon of wrongdoing in the handling of the complaints that precipitated the criminal investigation and figures from the SNP and Scottish Government have denied allegations of a plot against Salmond.

However, he sought further redress and launched a Court of Session case alleging malfeasance against the Scottish Government in late 2023.

Following his death, it emerged that much of his personal finances – including £500,000 won from the Scottish Government – had been spent on legal bills and a trustee in sequestration was appointed to his estate.

In November it was reported that his widow may have to sell their home to pay his creditors.

Ewing, a long-term friend of the Salmonds, said: “When Alex Salmond defeated the Scottish Government in the Court of Session the judge, Lord Pentland, found that their actions were ‘tainted by apparent bias’. Reacting to the defeat, the then permanent secretary, Leslie Evans, believing no doubt her remarks would never be made public, texted another senior official stating ‘we lost the battle but will win the war’.

“From these comments by the man who is now Lord President, Scotland’s most senior judge, and the woman who was then head of the Scottish civil service, it is inferred that, to paraphrase Shakespeare, ‘there was something rotten in the state of Scotland’.

“I believe it will become clear and proven that there was nothing less than a concerted campaign to destroy Alex Salmond and until the whole truth is finally made public, a dark shadow of deceit and of the malicious and calculated hounding of Scotland’s former leader, hangs over Scotland and us all.    

“When he was with us, I worked with him and others to expose the truth. That fight now continues led by the strongest of legal teams. They will, in their work in pursuing that legal action, seek to uncover the truth and lift that shadow. The quest is to seek justice not only for Alex, Moira, his family and so many dear friends - but for the sake of Scotland and for every man and woman in the land.”