Will we soon have to call him Lord Salmond?
ALEX Salmond should be given a peerage, according to the Scotland Office minister who was controversially made a Lord.
Ian Duncan yesterday claimed the SNP should join other parties in the House of Lords – despite its previous opposition to the move.
And he insisted Mr Salmond, who lost his seat at the General Election, would be a top candidate.
Dr Duncan will formally become Baron Duncan of Springbank today as he enters the House of Lords following his appointment as Under Secretary of State for Scotland.
He stood as Tory candidate in last month’s election against the SNP’s Pete Wishart in Perth and North Perthshire, but lost out by only 21 votes.
The Tory Government then announced Dr Duncan would still get a Westminster seat – but in the House of Lords, allowing him to take up a ministerial role.
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon described the decision as an ‘abomination’.
The former MEP told journalists yesterday that he believes the House of Lords will play a crucial role in Brexit negotiations – and insisted the SNP should make appointments to the chamber.
It comes after Nationalist MP Tommy Sheppard this week called a hereditary peer by-election in the Lords a ‘ludicrous farce’.
But Dr Duncan said: ‘I frankly think there should be far more members of the SNP in it [House of Lords], it’s the second chamber of the United Kingdom and they are needed there. Their voice is needed there, the views they have are needed there... I do think the SNP are missing in action, they should be there.’
Mr Salmond is not immediately available to take up a role in the Lords – because he is preparing to step into showbusiness with a twoweek run at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival.
Dr Duncan said: ‘I think it’s a loss to the UK Parliament that Alex Salmond is not available to be in the Lords... I think his experience should be at the disposal right now of his party in a place where it can make some difference and that would be, to some degree, in the House of Lords.’
Mr Salmond has previously ruled out entering the Lords.
An SNP spokesman said: ‘We have made clear before that we do not believe in an unelected second chamber – and neither does 90 per cent of the country.
‘Ian Duncan is the laughing stock of Scotland, having been beaten in a parliamentary contest and then elevated to the House of Lords.’