The Courier & Advertiser (Angus and Dundee)
Salmond condemns the ‘feeble five’ for scrawling swastika on sign
2021
A anlex Salmond clashed with Nicola Sturgeon over the timing of independence referendum, after the SNP leader refused to back calls for a quick exit from the UK.
Ms Sturgeon said she wants to focus on the recovery from the coronavirus crisis while building support for another vote on Scotland’s future.
The approach means the SNP group at Holyrood might be asked to snub any push at Holyrood for a fast referendum – if Alex Salmond and other Alba candidates are elected after May 6.
Mr Salmond, on the campaign trail in Falkirk yesterday, said Scotland cannot afford to wait and branded the main parties – including the SNP – as the “feeble five”.
He said: “This crystallises the difference of strategy in this election campaign.
“Alba believes that for Scotland to recover from the coronavirus we need the financial recovery powers that we can only have through independence.
“Our economic recovery can’t wait until next year, or the year after, it must be a recovery led by Scotland’s government right now.”
Ms Sturgeon had earlier set out her position in an exclusive interview, telling us: “For as long as it takes, getting us through the acute phase of Covid is my absolute priority.
“Getting the recovery under way is absolutely, vitally important but when we get to a point where the crisis is behind us, it really matters that we get to choose what kind of future we want.”
Ms Sturgeon was also asked on BBC Radio 4 whether she would vote with the Alba Party for an immediate negotiation.
“I don’t believe we should propose a referendum right at this moment,” she responded.
The SNP leader also admitted Scotland will need to confront border issues with the rest of the UK to rejoin the EU.
She asserted Scotland would remain in the Ukireland common travel area, saying “nobody with any shred of credibility” suggests otherwise.
And she said it “could be years” before nuclear missiles are removed from Faslane on the Clyde.
The constitution is not the only fault line between the two politicians. Their friendship was destroyed in the aftermath of allegations about Mr Salmond’s conduct in office.
Mr Salmond, standing for election on the North East regional ballot paper next week, used a campaigning event at the Falkirk Wheel to take another swipe at his former party.
He attacked the BBC for not giving his new party enough air time and criticised Ms Sturgeon’s plan for the first 100 days in a re-elected SNP government, which does not include pushing for a referendum.
Mr Salmond said: “Boris Johnson is currently on the ropes as prime minister and already it has been suggested that we give him a 100-day holiday from having to address the democratic will of Scotland.”
Addressing his air time on the BBC, Mr Salmond said: “Alba, on many measurements has already overtaken the Lib Dems in this campaign but yet is receiving only a bare fraction of the coverage allocated to the ‘feeble five’.
“There is no way that is fair, reasonable or democratic.”
the incident took on Thursday.
It is understood local officers are linking it to earlier slogans seen on a sign in Aboyne, and two thefts of large boards from the vicinity.
Mr Burnett said: “Loathsome vitriol of this kind doesn’t represent the Banchory I’ve loved all my life, or the constituency where I’ve been the MSP this past five years.
“I haven’t let bullies silence my campaign and I won’t start doing so now.
“But I do fear the impact that messages like this send to local people. place
“It has a chilling effect on democracy and freedom of expression.”
He added: “It certainly should have no place in Scotland.”
A police spokeswoman said: “Officers in Banchory received a report of vandalism to a sign on the A93 at its junction with Hill of Banchory which happened some time overnight between 8pm on Wednesday 28 April and 8.40am on Thursday 29 April. Inquiries are ongoing.”
Anyone with any information or who may have been in the area and saw anything suspicious is asked to contact police on 101, quoting incident number 1418 of 29 April.
In the 2016 Scottish Parliament election Mr Burnett stood as the Conservative Party candidate for the Aberdeenshire West and Kincardine constituency and won with 38.1% of the vote. He managed to unseat the incumbent candidate SNP candidate Dennis Robertson who only received 35.5%.
Mr Burnett has been reselected for next Thursday’s election. The other candidates for the seat are: Fergus Mutch (SNP), Rosemary Bruce (Lib Dems) and Andrew Philip Brown (Labour).