Salmond was cleared of serious sex offense charges after a trial in 2020.

He was charged with 13 offences, including attempted rape, but was acquitted on all counts after two weeks of evidence at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The women who made the allegations against Salmond – which date back to his time as prime minister – included an SNP politician, a party worker and several current and former Scottish Government civil servants and officials.

During his testimony in court, Salmond said claims made about his alleged conduct were “deliberate political fabrications” or “exaggerations”.

Salmond’s lawyer told the court the former prime minister “certainly could have been a better man” but had committed no crime.

He said his client sometimes behaved badly, calling him “touchy-feely”.

Two subsequent inquiries into the conduct of ministers and officials saw Salmond assert his belief that many in his former party had colluded against him in an effort to block his return to the political front line.