Yesterday’s man should stay in past

THERE was a tone of weariness when Nicola Sturgeon was asked about Alex Salmond during her interview with the Daily Record.

For weeks, Salmond had hurled baseless accusations about her husband and others being part of a massive plot to have him imprisoned.

She was having to rebut this nonsense at the same time as trying to combat a deadly pandemic.

After she survived a motion of no confidence over the Salmond row, she could have been forgiven for thinking that she had seen the last of her former mentor.

Within days, this notion was scuppered when Salmond announced his candidacy for Alba, a new pro-independence party.

Instead of triggering a debate on social, economic and constitutional reform, the Holyrood election looks set to be dominated by one man.

Salmond is a skilled politician but his candidacy is an unwelcome moment in this campaign on a number of levels.

A hybrid electoral system exists for Holyrood, with most MSPs elected on first past the post and a minority through proportional representation.

By backing the SNP in constituencies while trying to mop up gains on the regional Lists, Alba will stand accused of gaming the system.

If they are successful in May, pro-UK voters will feel the election has robbed them of a strong voice at Holyrood.

Already the ripple effects are starting to be felt.

In response to Salmond, the Tories have suggested pro-Union parties stand aside for each other in certain constituencies to maximise their vote.

This would be another extremely unwelcome development.

We are getting to the stage where the Holyrood electoral system looks like it could be broken.

Salmond’s return to the fray can also be criticised on the grounds of his personal conduct.

He was acquitted of sexual offences after a trial last year but he admitted conduct that was unbecoming of any First Minister.

For him to stand for office again is a shameless act of self-publicity.

The next term of the Scottish Parliament should be dominated by Covid recovery.

Our MSPs must be focused on healing recently-opened wounds and addressing long-standing inequalities.

The priorities must be education, the NHS, the economy and the environment, not prolonging this damaging psychodrama.

The former First Minister is a hugely important figure in Scotland’s political history but he is yesterday’s man whose best days are behind him.

He should put the interests of the country first and rethink this illjudged political comeback.