Alex Salmond urged to apologise over Edinburgh Fringe sex joke
2 min read
Alex Salmond has been urged to apologise after he appeared to joke about having sex with leading female politicians – including Nicola Sturgeon.
The former SNP leader – who lost his seat at the general election in June – told the bawdy gag at the opening performance of his one-man show at the Edinburgh Fringe yesterday.
He said: “I promised you today we'd either have Theresa May, or Nicola Sturgeon, or Ruth Davidson, or Melania Trump, but I couldn't make any of these wonderful women come.” Following a drum roll, Mr Salmond added: “To the show.”
Labour MSP Monica Lennon said: “It would be wrong to laugh these comments off as a bit of banter, this is a former First Minister degrading female politicians. Alex Salmond should know that comments like these are simply unacceptable and he should apologise.
“It would set a horrendous example to young men if he tries to hide behind these sexist comments as risque humour.”
But a spokesman for Mr Salmond told The Herald he would not apologise.
He said: “Don't be absurd. They are green at the gills. Scottish Labour are just miffed they didn't get a mention. They should enter into the spirit of the Fringe. It's the Edinburgh Fringe we are at, not fringe politics with Labour.”
Ironically, Scottish First Minister Ms Sturgeon yesterday waded into a sexism row after she condemned Clarks for a range of school shoe designs called “Dolly Babe” for girls and “Leader” for boys.
