Salmond attacked over “ill advised” Murdoch meeting
First Minister Alex Salmond has been accused of poor judgement following a meeting with News Corporation chairman Rupert Murdoch yesterday afternoon at his Bute House residence.
Murdoch, who that same day evacuated his son James from Britain to escape further phone hacking fallout, is said to have discussed Scotland’s constitutional future with Salmond.
Salmond is keen to bring Murdoch, and his media outlets, on side for what is already proving to be a bruising referendum campaign.
A spokesperson for the First Minister said afterward: “Mr Murdoch was keen to express his view that the current debate on Scotland’s constitutional future continued to make Scotland an attractive place for inward investment.”
Murdoch has previously expressed his support for Scottish independence in a tweet: “Let Scotland go and compete. Everyone would win.”
Anas Sarwar, the deputy leader of Scottish Labour, said: "Given the ongoing revelations at the Leveson inquiry and the row over the referendum date this week, this was an inappropriate and ill-advised meeting for the first minister to take.”