Sturgeon just like Farage and Trump, claims senior Lib Dem
‘Challenges our liberal values’
ALEX Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon have been compared to Donald Trump and Nigel Farage because of their obsession with nationalism and identity.
Ex-Scottish Secretary Alistair Carmichael launched a strongly worded attack on the SNP for constantly referring to ‘Scottish values’ to push its case for independence.
He made the comments at the Scottish Liberal Democrat conference, where leader Willie Rennie will today effectively launch the party’s pro-Union campaign.
Mr Carmichael’s comments were criticised by the SNP only a fortnight after London mayor Sadiq Khan said there was ‘no difference’ between nationalists and those who divide people on the basis of their race or religion.
Mr Carmichael, Scottish Secretary in the coalition government which fought to keep the Union in 2014, said: ‘The rise of nationalism challenges our liberal values. The answer to nationalism is never more nationalism.
‘Alex Salmond will tell you all he wants is for decisions about Scotland to be made by people living in Scotland.
‘How is that different from Nigel Farage wanting to take back control from Brussels, or even Donald Trump wanting to do deals, great deals, that will always put America first?
‘We all remember the misty- eyed rhetoric during the referendum about “Scottish values” of community, inclusion and even compassion.
‘Do they really believe all Scots hold these values? Or that only Scots can hold them? Maybe if you don’t hold them then you are not Scottish enough. It is divisive and exclusive.’
Mr Carmichael also attacked the Tories, accusing them of ‘collusion’ with the SNP by constantly talking about independence. He claimed the SNP is ‘ambivalent’ about Scotland’s place in Europe but uses the issue to manufacture a case for independence.
Today, Mr Rennie will effectively abandon his efforts to oppose a second referendum by saying we ‘head into another referendum campaign’. He will insist the case for the UK must be that it is an ‘uplifting, mutually beneficial partnership we should cherish rather than trash’.
Referring to Mr Carmichael’s comments, an SNP spokesman said: ‘The SNP speaks for an inclusive, outward-looking Scotland. Comparing supporters of independence to Trump and Farage shows how out of touch the Scottish Lib Dem leadership has become.’
Mr Salmond said: ‘Alistair Carmichael’s behaviour at the last election and attempted smearing of Nicola Sturgeon shows the political depths to which he stoops.’