Salmond is on Russian ‘state tool’
Alex Salmond’s controversial current affairs TV show is being broadcast on a “tool of the Russian state,” according to the SNP’S Westminster leader.
The former First Minister, currently fighting sexual harassment claims from his period in office, was an unwelcome distraction for the SNP hierarchy yesterday, despite having resigned his party membership while he fights the claims.
Westminster leader Ian Blackford came under pressure as senior SNP politicians continue to appear on The Alex Salmond Show, which Mr Blackford warned against last month. Western Isles MP Angus Macneil, the former Scottish Government health secretary Alex Neil and ex-holyrood Presiding Officer Tricia Marwick all appeared on the show last week.
Mr Blackford said: “We face a situation where we know there has been a terrorist attack on the streets of the United Kingdom, we know the involvement of the Russian state with the attack that took place on Salisbury.
“We know that RT is effectively a tool of the Russian state. I think they should reflect carefully before they appear on that programme.”
He added: “I don’t think it appropriate for our parliamentarians to appear on RT.”
Mr Salmond’s decision to establish a crowdfunding campaign – which raised more than £100,000 – prompted awkward questions for Ms Sturgeon yesterday over concerns expressed by Rape Crisis Scotland that the crowdfunder sends out the “wrong message” to potential victims.
Ms Sturgeon said: “I do think it’s important and I agree with Rape Crisis and other organisations that we must do nothing that makes it harder for women – or anyone – to come forward with these complaints. I think there is a duty on all of us in how we respond to things to make sure we’re not doing that.”