Salmond labelled 'Putin's useful idiot' amidst calls for him to quit RT

Alex Salmond has been described as “Putin’s useful idiot”, as he was urged to step down from his show on the Russian state controlled broadcaster RT.

The former first minister has faced repeated criticism over his presence on the network following the launch of his programme, The Alex Salmond Show, in 2017.

Nicola Sturgeon has previously said that she would have urged her predecessor against appearing on RT.

It comes amidst increasing tensions between Russia and Ukraine, with fears over the prospect of an invasion.

On Monday, Salmond’s Alba Party suggested that there was a “determined hyping of impending conflict”.

The party’s group leader at Westminster, Neale Hanvey, warned against “ramping up the case for war”.

Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton hit out at Salmond and urged him to step down from his show on RT.

And he insisted that no representative of any Scottish party should be appearing on the network.

“Putin’s build-up of troops menacing Ukraine’s eastern border is an attempt to compel through force or threat its smaller neighbour to do as it wishes. That is a grave breach of international law,” said Cole-Hamilton.

“This is a dangerous escalation in Russian foreign policy and it should be called out.

“Here in the west, Putin’s propaganda broadcasters represent a powerful tool in his foreign policy arsenal for spreading confusion and disinformation.

“No representative of a Scottish party should be appearing on their channels. I hope that the other party leaders will join me in instructing their parliamentarians to reject Putin’s propagandists.”

Cole-Hamilton told Salmond that he should quit “laundering the reputation” of the Russian regime.

“Being Putin’s useful idiot may have stroked Alex Salmond’s ego and filled his bank account but it’s an embarrassment to our nation that a former first minister could sink so low,” he said.

“If Alex Salmond had a shred of regard for human rights around the world he should step aside and quit laundering the reputation of the Russian regime.”