Alex Salmond’s links to Murdoch newspapers questioned
Alex Salmond is coming under pressure to reveal his links to the Murdoch newspapers which backed him to become First Minister, claims the Daily Record today.
The Trinity Mirror owned tabloid, which backed the Scottish Labour Party at the recent Holyrood election, has an article by its UK political editor, Torcuil Crichton in which he states: “Salmond has been pilloried by opponents for dragging his feet on the phone-hacking scandal.
The piece claims that Salmond only 'broke his silence' after Scottish Labour leader Iain Gray question why he had not said anything, while Salmond has also failed to join with other political leaders in calling for Rebekah Brooks to resign as chief executive of News International.
“Now he is being asked questions on his personal connections to News International after it emerged he attended a celebration dinner to thank the newspapers for backing the SNP in the Scottish election," says the piece.
Glasgow Proven Labour MSP Paul Martin is also quoted as saying that he suspects that Salmond's 'sudden and close relationship with News International' explains his refusal to criticize the company.
Crichton points out that Labour said they knew NI hosted a business breakfast for the SNP just weeks before polling day and that NI officials came to Holyrood to discuss the SNP election strategy in detail.
Crichton also claims that the party provided an interview with SNP supporter Sir Sean Connery and increased their advertising spend in the Murdoch titles.
“The Sun then delivered a ringing endorsement of Salmond on election day, in sharp contrast to the image of an SNP noose around Scotland in the 2007 campaign.”
The Daily Record quotes a spokesperson for the First Minister as saying last night: "Labour's hypocrisy is breathtaking, given that practically their entire leadership attended Rupert Murdoch's summer party in London last month, downing champagne and oysters with Rebekah Brooks.
"The meeting with James Murdoch was in early January and was to discuss jobs and business opportunities in Scotland - they are after all one of Scotland's biggest private sector employers."