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.
