Exclusive poll shows Sturgeon in driving seat

The SNP could be on course for a slim overall majority at Holyrood, paving the way for another showdown with Downing Street over independence.

Alex Salmond is at the centre of a row about transgender rights over a remark he is reported to have made to the respected broadcaster Jim Spence.

Writing in his latest column for The Courier, Mr Spence claimed the former first minister complained to him the SNP had been “captured by around a hundred loony tune transgender warriors”.

Nicola Sturgeon said the alleged remarks were a “mischaracterisation of reality” and also “pretty offensive”.

Mr Salmond insists the quotation is inaccurate.

The Alba Party leader said he contacted Mr Spence to try to secure his endorsement and referred to so-called “keyboard warriors” who he believed were “unjustly labelling other people as transphobic”. Mr Spence, a former Dundee University rector, previously wrote about how he spoke to Mr Salmond for about 20 minutes when he was asked if he would endorse the Alba chief ahead of the election.

In his latest column for The Courier, the former BBC man said: “Alex Salmond, the Alba creator, said to me recently: ‘If you’d told me seven years ago that the party that I once led would be captured by around a hundred loony tune transgender warriors I’d have laughed at you’.”

Mr Spence was discussing his belief that a “civil war” in the independence movement now “seems certain”.

He said: “I suspect that guerrilla war could erupt into full-blown conflict as the SNP continue with their cautious approach to ‘building the case’ for independence, much to the anger of Alba, the new ‘old’ kids on the block.”

Mr Salmond led the SNP for two decades, in two spells, but is now seeking to become an Alba Party MSP for the north-east region. He confirmed he had a private conversation with Mr Spence about six weeks ago.

“I remember the circumstances very well indeed although I don’t accept that what appears in his column represents an exact quotation,” he said.

“It should be made clear, for example, that I was referring to so-called ‘keyboard warriors’, unjustly labelling other people as transphobic.”

Ms Sturgeon was asked about the reported remarks while on the campaign trail yesterday.

The first minister said: “I don’t want to dignify that comment too much, to be honest. It’s a complete mischaracterisation of reality, but it’s also pretty offensive.

“The Alex Salmond I used to know believed in an SNP that was inclusive and, in its own inclusivity, demonstrated the kind of Scotland we wanted to build.

“And that is what I still believe in – a Scotland that values everybody for who they are, and a Scotland where everybody feels safe and respected.”

Colin Macfarlane, director of Stonewall Scotland, said: “This election is about the kind of society we want to live in.

“Candidates in this election have a responsibility to champion the individuals they hope to represent, and this includes LGBT+ people.

“Trans people in Scotland still face huge levels of abuse and inequality and it’s appalling to see a party use trans people’s lives as a political football.

“Mr Salmond’s views are also out of touch with what the majority of Scotland wants and that is for trans people to be treated with dignity, respect and acceptance.

“We should all be focusing on tackling prejudice and supporting LGBT+ communities.”

● See Jim Spence’s full column on page 21.

EMBROILED: Alba Party leader and former first minister Alex Salmond made the remarks to broadcaster Jim Spence.