Nicola Sturgeon has rubbished Alex Salmond’s claim that a plot was hatched to remove him from public life, describing the suggestion as “absurd”.
He has previously alleged that Scotland’s first minister made a “malicious and concerted” attempt to rid him of a political future through the government’s investigation into sexual harassment claims made against him.
Mr Salmond, who was acquitted of 13 charges in criminal court, won a judicial review which found the government’s investigation was “tainted by apparent bias”.
However, Ms Sturgeon, whose political future is at stake, strongly denies the “plot” allegations, saying there is not “a shred of evidence” to support them.
Earlier this week, written statements by two former SNP officials contradicted Ms Sturgeon’s version of events. Meanwhile, the Scottish Conservatives have called on her to resign over her government’s mishandling of the investigation.
Commentators have noted how damaging the feud is for Scotland, with former prime minister Gordon Brown saying it is “bringing the country down”.
