High Court date set next month in Alex Salmond case

Alex Salmond, Scotland's former First Minister, who faces charges including attempted rape, is set to appear in court next month.

Prosecutors said on Monday that the case against him would call at the High Court in Edinburgh for a procedural hearing on November 21. A full trial is expected to take place early next year.

In January this year Mr Salmond was charged with 13 sexual offences, including two allegations of attempted rape, sexual assault and indecent assault, and one charge of breach of the peace.

He strenuously denies all the allegations against him and said he would defend himself “to the utmost in court”.

Mr Salmond has instructed the leader of the Scottish bar, Gordon Jackson QC, Dean of the Faculty of Advocates, and Shelagh McCall QC, for the High Court case.

He previously won a civil case against the Scottish Government over its botched probe into misconduct allegations against him. The Government admitted its procedures had been flawed and paid out more than £500,000 in legal expenses.

Mr Salmond led the SNP for 20 years in two separate stints and was First Minister between 2007 and 2014, when he stood after losing the independence referendum.

He lost his Westminster seat in the 2017 general election and has since had a show on the Russian television network RT.