Ministers to avoid Salmond’s talk show
● EX-SNP chief told he was ‘too hot a property’ for UK TV authorities
Nicola Sturgeon has ruled out any Scottish Government minister appearing on her predecessor Alex Salmond’s new talk show that will air on Russian television.
The First Minister said she would have advised the EX-SNP leader against choosing public broadcaster Russia Today for the programme if she had been asked.
Mr Salmond last night defended his media outlet choice, saying he offered the show to British broadcasters, but was told he would be “too hot a property” for the UK market.
Scottish Government ministers will not appear on Alex Salmond’s new talk show being aired on Russia Today, a spokesman for Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.
The Alex Salmond Show will debut on the Russian-state funded channel tomorrow, but the former first minister has come under fire amid claims that the broadcaster is a “propaganda” vehicle for Vladimir Putin’s regime.
The EX-SNP leader revealed last night he offered the show to British broadcasters and was told he would be “too hot a property” for the British television authorities.
Ms Sturgeon said she would have advised her predecessor against choosing Russia Today for the show. Mr Salmond headed the Scottish Government for seven years until 2014, but asked if any ministers from his former administration would appear on the debut show, Ms Sturgeon’s spokesman replied: “No.” He added: “I don’t think you’ve seen any Scottish Government ministers on RT anytime, so I don’t anticipate that changing any time soon.” Salmond – who lost his Westminster seat in June – was unveiled as RT’S new host last week. He has insisted that he will have editorial control. His decision to work for the channel was criticised by Ms Sturgeon, who said she had not been asked about the arrangement and would have advised against it if she had been. Last month, Twitter banned RT ads after US intelligence agencies uncovered evidence the channel was part of a Russian plot to undermine the presidential election in 2016. Mr Salmond is currently bidding to become the chairman of Johnston Press, which owns the Scotsman. He launched a defence of HIS decision to appear on the Russia Today during an appearance on Channel 4 News last night.
“I offered the show to a range of broadcasters and rtuk put in the best offer and also one that offers an international platform.
“But it’s produced by my production company, Slainte Productions, and it’s edited and produced by me – anything in that programme will be mine and mine alone.”
He added: “Do you know what I was told by a broadcaster who wanted to broadcast my show? I was told I would be too hot a property for the British television authorities. How do you square that with an argument for freedom of speech?”
He added that about 100 MPS, including every party leader except Theresa May, have appeared on Russia Today. The ex-first minister rejected claims that being the anchor of the show was a different scenario which lended the station much-needed credibility.
The Prime Minister this week launched an attack on Russia accusing it of seeking to “weaponise information” by planting fake news to sow discord in the west and undermine national institutions.