The Scotsman

Salmond is on Russian ‘state tool’

- By SCOTT MACNAB

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.”

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