Nationalists ‘risk betraying women’
NICOLA Sturgeon has been warned that using Alex Salmond’s votes to ram through an independence referendum Bill would be a ‘betrayal’ of women.
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie, a member of the Salmond inquiry committee, said such a move would be ‘rank hypocrisy’.
Mr Salmond – who was cleared of 13 charges of sexual misconduct at the High Court in Edinburgh in March last year – is hoping his new Alba Party can help deliver a ‘super-majority’ to secure an referendum. His former protégée has been scathing about his previous conduct and insisted she would not work with him.
But if he is successful, she could yet be reliant on Alba Party votes to pass legislation – including a referendum.
Ms Baillie said: ‘I absolutely think it would backfire. She’s already said she would not work with Alex Salmond, would not cooperate with Alex Salmond.
‘Those in her party who are hoping to get a pro-independence majority are not going to get it through the SNP and Alba.’
When Ms Sturgeon gave evidence to the Salmond inquiry, she accused her predecessor of ‘deeply inappropriate behaviour’.
Ms Baillie – whose party leader Anas Sarwar was on the campaign trail yesterday in Rutherglen, Lanarkshire – said: ‘It would be a betrayal of everything she has said if she’s in a position where she has to rely on his votes.
‘She would be guilty of the most rank hypocrisy if she used his votes to ram through an independence bill.
‘She has acknowledged that she wants to have a second referendum within the next two years.
‘That may be popular in her party, but it is not popular in the country.’