Salmond’s sexist joke falls flat at Fringe show

First Minister Alex Salmond has come under fire after making a crude joke about female politicians during his show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.

Salmond, who dropped the gag for the second edition of his show yesterday, named First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davdison, Prime Minister Theresa May and US First Lady Melania Trump in the joke, saying that he “couldn’t make any...[of them] come.”

His joke came under fire from opposition parties who said they were “degrading” and said he would not be winning any awards for his comedy show,

Unleashed, at the city’s Assembly Rooms. The first edition of Unleashed, with Brexit Secretary David Davis making a guest appearance, was panned by critics.

Scottish Conservative MSP Murdo Fraser said: “Alex Salmond has gone from being First Minister to a bore propping up the bar. He certainly won’t be troubling the judging panel for Fringe joke of the year.”

Labour MSP Monica Lennon said: “It would be wrong to laugh these comments off as banter, this is a former First Minister degrading female politicians. Alex Salmond should know that comments like these are simply unacceptable and he should apologise.”

We all know that the Fringe is a place where there are no holds barred – but when it comes to a former First Minister, we have a certain degree of expectation that he will not offend.

To attempt to win a laugh with lame innuendo about female politicians is in bad taste, and it isn’t even funny.

Alex Salmond’s attempt at humour came on a day when First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who was one of the targets of the gag, was taking on major corporations when she waded into the row over sexist names of types of school shoes sold by retailer Clarks. If comedy is all about timing, Mr Salmond couldn’t have been much more out of step.

What is more, Mr Salmond – both during his time as leader and since – has always prided himself on being a man of the people, with the common touch, but on this occasion his judgment has deserted him.

Let’s hope that, for the rest of his Fringe run, Salmond uses his experience in frontline politics to entertain and inform in a mature and considered way – rather than trying to get a cheap laugh.