Salmond can’t see that hosting a chat show on Russia TV is unacceptable
It is interesting that a number of Scottish Nationalists are as unhappy about Alex Salmond signing up to present a show on RT, the Russian propaganda broadcaster, as the rest of us. This is understandable. After all, being on RT clearly shows a lack of judgment by this Marmite politician, who does not see what the consequence of this decision will be.
Mr Salmond also wants to be made Chairman of Johnston Group, which owns The Scotsman and a number of other Scottish newspapers. However, there is absolutely no chance that someone who works for a media organisation controlled by Vladimir Putin could be allowed to control one of the most influential newspapers in the UK.
If he still entertains thoughts he will be allowed any access to such a position, he had better get used to understanding that he will never achieve that goal. Nicola Sturgeon is understandably quick to distance herself from her predecessor Alex Salmond and his chat show venture into RT, the former Russia Today television channel.
Mr Salmond was said to be looking forward to seeing things from the other side of the interviewing table. As First Minister he was said to admire Vladimir Putin and he backed Donald Trump when the now US President wanted the Menie estate golf course site trampling over locals and ignoring environmentalists, before the two men fell out over wind farms.
The political danger may not be Alex Salmond working on a Kremlin-backed TV channel so much as if it gives him ideas for a Scottish Broadcasting Corporation or worse still on how he would like to control The Scotsman newspaper should he ever get his hands on it. What is most surprising about Alex Salmond’s forthcoming show on rt is that so many seem surprised by his latest attention-seeking plans.
The former First Minister’s raison d’être is separating Scotland from the rest of the UK. Russia supported Scottish independence in 2014, not from a perspective of selfdetermination but because it considered the break-up of the UK would help weaken the West. Mr Salmond craves attention and passionately supports the break-up of the UK. A show on Russia Today suits him perfectly. When Alex Salmond was questioned too closely for comfort during the 2014 referendum debate, the SNP let loose their dogs of war on the BBC Glasgow offices to protest at a questioner having the temerity not to take bland assertions for an answer.
This affront to democracy comes into greater focus with the prospect of Mr Salmond being involved in a consortium that could possibly take over the gloriously independent Scotsman, which publishes diverse views from across the entire political spectrum. The thought of a Salmond-run or influenced paper to replace it should fill every free-thinking democrat in Scotland with dread and send shivers up our collective spines.