Salmond and Sturgeon told to ‘stop knocking hell out of each other in public’

A FORMER first minister has urged his SNP successors to “stop knocking hell out of each other in public” for the sake of the country.

Henry Mcleish said their bitter feud had “cast a shadow” over Holyrood and was allowing people at Westminster “to make mischief at Scotland’s expense”.

Mr Mcleish said the country had to get “back to some normality”.

The former Labour first minister, who was forced to resign in a scandal 20 years ago, also said it was unlikely that Ms Sturgeon would be forced out too.

Ms Sturgeon is facing calls from the Scottish Tories to quit over possible ethics breaches, and the opposition party has threatened a vote of no confidence in her.

Mr Mcleish said there was “no serious path” to either a resignation or a no confidence vote passing.

His intervention comes after Mr Salmond and Ms Sturgeon gave lengthy and contradictory oral evidence to the Holyrood inquiry into the Government’s bungled sexual misconduct probe into Mr Salmond in 2018.

Mr Salmond had the exercise set aside in January 2019 after a court challenge, showing it was “tainted by apparent bias”, and receiving £512,0000 in legal costs.

Mr Salmond has accused his successor of breaking the ministerial code and claims her allies and husband were part of a plot to destroy and even jail him.

Ms Sturgeon has said that is an “alternative reality” and he should apologise for his “inappropriate” conduct with women.

On Radio Scotland, Mr Mcleish was asked about the impact of the row .

He said: “It’s not something we would want to have because, quite frankly, it casts a shadow over the parliament, it casts a shadow over the Government, and it gives people at Westminster... it allows them to make mischief at Scotland’s expense. This is something I hope we don’t see again.

“The First Minister I think has rebutted most of the challenges, the allegations that have been made.”

He went on: “In my view, there is no path, no serious path, towards the First Minister either resigning or in fact suffering with a vote of confidence in the parliament.

“We can’t continue to see two distinguished, prestigious people knocking hell out of each other in public. That’s got to be left behind.

“I hope at the end of all of this the Parliament, the Government learn lessons. That’s the important thing.

“There are reforms required and that should be the first priority after we get this initial mess sorted out.”

Mr Mcleish, 72, was a Labour first minister in 2000 and 2001.

His comments were later echoed by Scottish Tory leader Douglas Ross in an online event.

He said: “It’s damaging Scottish politics. It’s damaging the reputation of our Parliament.

“At 22 years old, we still have a very young Parliament in Scotland and people expected far better.

“The saddest effect of the past few days is how it’s really dragged down the Scottish Parliament and the reputation of Scottish politics.”