Craig Murray: Alba blocked Holyrood bid because of jail time
Mr Murray, who believed the prosecution of the former First Minister was unjust, attended two days of the trial at the High Court in Edinburgh in March 2020 and later wrote about it on his website.
Three judges, including the trial judge, the Lord Justice Clerk Lady Dorrian — the second most senior judge in Scotland — ruled he was in contempt of court. They said there had been a risk of jigsaw identification: publishing material which, when combined with other publicly available information, could have identified complainers.
At his sentencing, Lady Dorrian claimed Mr Murray appeared to have been 'relishing' the potential disclosure of identities, despite court orders granting the women lifelong anonymity.
Mr Salmond — who died in October last year — was cleared of all charges at the trial.
In a speech to Alba members shortly after Mr Murray was jailed, the former first minister stood by his friend.
He said: 'In the treatment of Craig Murray, the Scottish judicial system has shamed itself internationally.
'Recently our country welcomed delegates from some 200 nations and territories to our major city of Glasgow, to discuss the future of the planet. What would these delegates have thought of us, if they knew that we were a nation which jailed journalists, particularly one of the intelligence, track record and calibre of Craig Murray?'
Posting on X, Mr Murray said: 'I was given two reasons I cannot stand for Alba. My prison sentence was one, my standing for the Workers Party in Blackburn was the other.
'I only stood, on Gaza, after full discussion and agreement with Alex Salmond. I intend to fight this.'
Mr Murray said he intended to fight the decision.
I was given 2 reasons I cannot stand for Alba. My prison sentence was one, my standing for the Workers' Party in Blackburn was the other.
I only stood, on Gaza, after full discussion and agreement with Alex Salmond.
I intend to fight this. Fellow Alba members please ask your… https://t.co/8Qzus3PbKt — Craig Murray (@CraigMurrayOrg) June 25, 2025
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In another tweet, Mr Murray said he believed the party's decision may have been a bid to establish a 'precedent they hope to use against a bigger figure than me…'
Tommy Sheridan is also bidding to become an Alba candidate (Image: NQ) Though he did not name anyone in particular, last week Tommy Sheridan revealed that he had put his name forward in the hope of being selected as an Alba candidate.
The former MSP was sentenced to three years in prison in 2011 for committing perjury in the £200,000 defamation case he won against the News of the World in 2006. The now-defunct tabloid had claimed he visited a swingers' club.
The scandal led to Mr Sheridan quitting as leader of the SSP and forming the rival party Solidarity.
At the time of his sentencing, Alba leader Kenny MacAskill was the SNP Government's justice secretary.
Alba has been approached for comment.
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