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.’
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 reads an eulogy during at the public memorial service for her uncle
In the memoir, 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
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.
The ex-SNP leader and Alba Party founder was cleared of 13 sexual offence charges, including attempted rape, though he conceded during the trial he could have been a ‘better man’
Ms Sturgeon’s book was launched on August 14 at the Edinburgh International Book Festival
Even now after Mr Salmond’s passing, Ms Sturgeon admitted his impact on her continues and she will ‘never quite escape the shadow he casts, even in death’
‘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.
Mr Salmond died on October 12 last year and Ms Sturgeon did not attend his funeral on October 29
‘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’.
