Now ‘sexist’ Salmond to take Fringe show on tour
Coming to a town near you...ex-First Minister’s risqué roadshow
HE has spent the past two weeks holding court on stage in Scotland’s capital – and kicked off his residency with a sexist joke.
But Alex Salmond has evidently developed a taste for the showbiz limelight as he is now in talks to take his Edinburgh Fringe show on tour.
The former First Minister, who was ousted as a Westminster MP in June’s general election, came under fire from opponents and equality campaigners for a joke about having sex with leading women, including the Prime Minister.
He told the audience: ‘I promised you today we’d either have Theresa May or Nicola Sturgeon or Ruth Davidson or Melania Trump, but I couldn’t make any of these wonderful women come...’ After an onstage band hit a ‘ba-dum’ on the drums, he added ‘...to the show.’
Labour MSP Monica Lennon branded the comments a ‘horrendous example to young men’ and Talat Yaqoob, co-founder of the cross-party Women 50:50 group, said: ‘I don’t think it is an appropriate joke to be making. It illustrates the sexism women experience despite being at a high level of leadership.’
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said her former colleague was not sexist, but suggested the joke belonged ‘in the Benny Hill era’.
Undaunted, Mr Salmond refused to apologise and his spokesman claimed that Labour – led by Kezia Dugdale – were ‘just miffed they didn’t get a mention’.
The politician was joined by a different guest for each of his Alex Salmond... Unleashed shows. And after 19 performances at the festival – during which he raised more than £23,000 for charity – the former SNP leader brought down the curtain, saying: ‘That’s all folks... for now.’
Guests during the run of hourlong lunchtime shows included Brexit Secretary David Davis, Hibs manager Neil Lennon and comedian John Bishop.
Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, the former Nationalist MP who produced the show, confirmed that talks were taking place about a tour, saying: ‘So watch this space!’