Nationalists defend Salmond and Ahmed-sheikh’s trip to Strasbourg

The SNP has claimed it is “standard practice” for its former MPS Alex Salmond and Tasmina Ahmed-sheikh to continue representing the UK parliament in Europe. A party spokeswoman defended Mr Salmond and Ms Ahmed-sheikh’s decision to attend Council of Europe Assembly meetings in Strasbourg.

According to reports, Ms Ahmed-sheikh was at the Assembly on 26 and 27 June – two weeks after losing her Ochil and South Perthshireseat to the Tories.

Mr Salmond was there on 27 0 Alex Salmond was in Strasbourg on 27 June June after losing Gordon earlier in the month. Mr Salmond and Ms Ahmed-sheikh were chosen by the SNP to represent the UK parliament in the Council of Europe in November 2015. Both former MPS will be eligible for costs worth up to £1,600 for the 26 and 27 June sessions, which can be claimed from the House of Commons.

A SNP spokeswoman said: “The existing UK delegation remainsinplaceuntilreplaced by the Speaker’s nomination within a six-month period of the election.

“This is the standard practice for all national delegations and necessary to ensure continuity of representation as confirmed by Tory UK permanent representative Sir Roger Gale. The Council of Europe is indirectly elected and includes unelected peers.”