PM: Salmond risks being Putin ‘tool’

Theresa May has weighed into the row over Alex Salmond’s programme on Russia Today (RT), saying people appearing on the channel “risk being used as propaganda tools by the Russian state”.

The former SNP leader and First Minister of Scotland has come under renewed pressure to give up his show with the state broadcaster since two suspected Russian intel- ligence agents were charged with the attempted murder of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury in March.

Askedabouttherowatprime Minister’s Questions by Scottish Conservative MP John Lamont, Mrs May said: “I’m sure we all have doubts about the objectivity of the reporting on Russia Today, which does remain a tool of propaganda for the Russian state.

“Decisions about appearing on Russia Today are a matter of judgment for each individu- al but they should be clear that they risk being used as propaganda tools by the Russian state.”

Mr Salmond hit back, saying it was “plain daft” for the Prime Minister to “offer a comment on a show she has never even seen”.

The SNP’S Westminster leader Ian Blackford has criticised the channel, calling RT “a vehicle of the Russian state”, but Nationalist MP Angus Macneil defied the warning, saying: “I will talk to any media.”