A senior Nationalist has said he would be happy for Alex Salmond to return to Holyrood as an MSP. Alex Neil described the former First Minister as a political “heavyweight” who would enhance the reputation of the Parliament if he was elected next year.
Salmond was acquitted of 13 sexual offences charges during a trial this month at the High Court in Edinburgh. After he was first accused of sexual misconduct in 2018, he quit the SNP as a way of blunting opposition party attacks.Though he was cleared this week, he is still not a party member, but supporters are keen for him to rejoin.Neil, an SNP MSP who served as health secretary under Salmond, said: “I do not see why Alex should not be back in the party.