How Sturgeon broke devolution - Alex Salmond vs Fraser Nelson | SpectatorTV

[@ladydilbert1797]

Sorry Fraser. I started watching to get your take on Scotland’s handling of the pandemic as revealed by the inquiry. I gave up about 7 minutes in when it was just Alex Salmond deflecting the discussion to Westminster. Pity.

[@kenkenyon114]

I gave up 5 seconds before you for the exact same reason.

[@cooperization]

Devolutions main benefit has been to waste a huge amount of money,with no benefit to Scotland except decline.

[@lizwood510]

And Keir Starmer is aiming to devolve power to all corners of the UK.

[@minixtvbox]

Tory scum Britain and brexit are Scotland's decline

[@christinebriggs3971]

Couldn't have said it better myself.

[@jonathanmacdonald880]

Total nonsense I am afraid. If you live here you would see the benefits.

[@cooperization]

@@jonathanmacdonald880 I have for 36 years--don't assume,it makes you look so so silly.

[@blearyview2254]

Where does he get the idea from that it is miniscule numbers that want to do away with devolution? Devolution has been a complete disaster and eats up huge resources with no benefit. Bin the lot and get regions back and give control and money back to the people in the areas we live. The SNP has carried out a huge centralisation and we are poorer because of their policies, but of course they won't admit this.

[@FunnyBunny-pd5xx]

You may be aware The Westminster Government has suspended all payments to UNRWA until the TRUTH is learned about certain UNRWA Staff involved Saturday 7 October MASSACRE. First Minister of Scotland, Humza Yousef has stated he will continue paying ! Yousef does NOT hold The Authority to use Scottish Taxpayer's money, as his own, for personal use, to give UNRWA even MORE MONEY ! Today, I have reported Humza Yousef to The Rt. Hon. Jeremy Hunt MP, Chancellor of The Exchequer asking he STOPS Humza Yousef using Scottish Taxpayer's money to send to The Gaza Strip.

[@HereicomeOz]

I agree. Up in the northern parts of Scotland. Aberdeen, Inverness and all the smaller towns have been left behind to fund the central belt

[@memofromessex]

Aye, my dad lives on the Hebrides and feels Holyrood is as afar away as Westminster - though he also feels the same with Highland Council in Inverness.

[@christinemartin194]

As usual, Alex Salmond has failed to answer the most fundamental question - which areas of Scottish life has devolution been proven to benefit?

[@robertcook2572]

MSPs..............er, that's all I've got.

[@williamrae9954]

In my lifetime, the Union has turned us into a wasteland...we can't sink much lower!

[@alexispaterson814]

@William. For the past 16 years of my life The SNP and their supporters have turned Scotland into a place where they have killed the old celebrated because they might have been nationalists, They keep the children ill educated with no prospects to work their way out of poverty and ignorant so they will keep voting for the very party that keeps them down. Also they have turned Scot against Scot so we don't see what the SNP are doing.

[@robertcook2572]

@@williamrae9954 Eh?

[@davidorrell764]

Which areas of life are better in the union? Not many at the moment.

[@5lowburner]

I think this suffered from a mismatch of intentions. Fraser appeared to seek a frank discussion about Scottish politics whereas Alex seemed to expect a political interview and was very defensive throughout.

[@katyselsdon5724]

I actually don’t dislike him but you can see where SNP’s auto reply of: “look at Westminster, not us” - comes from.

[@5lowburner]

@@katyselsdon5724 and given Westminster’s oversight, youd think it be wiser to spend parliamentary time on laws central to Scottish concerns to be rubber-stamped than on fripperies unlikely to stick like Sturgeon/Yussef’s bizarre obsession with race and ‘gender’.

[@unclem7816]

Still no solution for the curency question, nor the pensions issue. Its been nearly 10 years and not one solid serious proposal.

[@jonathanmacdonald880]

Nonsense, the Look up the excellent work the Scottish currency group have done on this, we are all set when we become independent.

[@hb1338]

@@jonathanmacdonald880 The problem is that Salmond and Sturgeon have between themselves completely killed the possibility of Scotland ever achieving independence.

[@jonathanmacdonald880]

@@hb1338 rubbish opinion based on what?

[@jonathanmacdonald880]

According to who, you? Not from the eviedence support is still strong and one day it will happen it is simply a questions of time for those brainwashed by the mothership that independence is a force for good.@@hb1338

[@PLeon-kd1yd]

@@jonathanmacdonald880 share it with us then. If snp had a viable economic plan they’d be shouting it from the rooftops the fact that they aren’t speaks volumes ya 🤡

[@carlitoab]

Devolution has been a complete disaster and should be abolished.

[@jpj-rx1zu]

Devolution is backed by the vast majority of the Scottish people and the latest opinion polls show a 58% in favour of Scottish Independence !

[@biglongun]

@@jpj-rx1zuzero chance o& independence happing any time soon

[@benwaddington2186]

@@jpj-rx1zu Were they polling the ones on drink and drugs?

[@markwhitbread7383]

@@jpj-rx1zuYou’d probably find a large part of the English population also back Scottish independence

[@Enhancedlies]

id like to keep them purely for the oil..@@markwhitbread7383

[@johnhall6445]

So much more about wiping his own slate clean than addressing the issues

[@M0S3ST0NE]

AI Chat is an AI chatbot that writes text. You can use it to write stories, messages, or programming code. You can use the AI chatbot as a virtual tutor in almost any subject.

[@AntPDC]

Fellow Scot, and Chairman of the Speccie Andrew Neil was needed here. Self-satisfied, divisive delusionalist Salmond would never have agreed to be interviewed by him, naturally. Poor show. Where were the questions about the multiple failures of the SNP regime even to deliver a couple of ferries for example? Salmond would no doubt have blamed these successive failures on England, but Neil would have gutted him royally.

[@mmcc5846]

😂Ant pcd andrew neil.the paedophile don't make me laugh

[@jonathanmacdonald880]

Fraser Nelson reminds me of all those other remainer. Totally lacking in courage and conviction one of lives wets who hold onto there mother apron. The right wing have done a good job on his brain. Sad.

[@GEDOB1]

what a cheek to mention drug deaths and not alcohol deaths each year. alcohol is a drug for the hypocrites

[@littlepocketman3531]

A defection to knife crime is a bit of a stretch when taking drug deaths.

[@edwardhowie6102]

Bull-shit and deflection as usual from slippery Salmond, he is just as untrustworthy and Sleekit as Sturgeon and the rest of the Natzs

[@soundssimple1]

Please ask Alex Salmond to list which parts of life in Scotland have improved since 1997. Especially in the last 16 years ? I'm waiting.

[@minixtvbox]

14 Tory scum years= poverty UK

[@davidorrell764]

The question should surely be, which parts of Scottish life have improved since 2014 when Scotland was promised better together?

[@petergordon4525]

​@@davidorrell764since its the SNP government who run all the day to day devolved matters in Scotland and that we receive £2k per person more in public spending than the UK average, I think you should be asking Scotgov that question!

[@soundssimple1]

@@davidorrell764 Scottish life in general should have improved if the SNP had not wasted the funds from Westminster. The average money per head of capita sent to Holyrood is 17% higher than that per capita to England. Very simply put we get £1.17 for every £1 sent to the rest of the UK. maybe we should ask again why has Scotland not outstripped the UK in all sectors ? The answer is simple, the SNP are inept and throw money away, Embassies, Legal Advice, Court Cases, Spin Doctors ( 27). Ferries, cancelled Bottle return Schemes, Edinburgh Sick Kids Hospital failures, Prosecution of RFC, NHS Agency workers fees............on and on and on. And before you come back with Westminster wasted as well - I Agree - but we are talking Holyrood and SNP competancy here. FAILED

[@davidorrell764]

@@soundssimple1 you are talking absolute rubbish. How much does Scotland pay to the treasury? How much does Scotland get back? Scotland can't have a deficit. It's impossible. It works off a fixed budget which it has no control over. Educate yourself on how UK funding works. Scots pay interest payments for debt racked up in England. Westminster is totally inept and utterly corrupt. Scotland has abstracted more oil than Norway yet the outcome between the two couldn't be more stark. The torys have pissed Scotlands wealth up the financial sector wall while Scotland has been left to burn. By the way, this is the same for Wales and NI. There is zero benefit for any of these countries to being part of the UK. If Scotland is failing, it's because it's in the UK, no other reason.

[@andrewcavenagh9016]

It's richly fitting that Sturgeon's legacy will be one of shameful ignominy, if not worse.

[@M0S3ST0NE]

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[@Logies_right_hand]

Salmond couldn’t help himself when talking about what’s app messages….had to compare it with the British government! But luckily it was pointed out they hadn’t deleted any messages.

[@MosMunchyBox]

Rishi Sunak tells Covid inquiry he was not told to save WhatsApp messages

[@billh7106]

Strange wee man Sturgeon trying to jail him and he may have finished his life in jail yet he still keeps quiet about Sturgeon

[@johntgw]

Contempt of court laws in Scotland cover a much wider range of subjects than in England.

[@MrCameronian]

Biding his time.

[@alexd7029]

Again Sturgeon deleted and withheld information at his inquiry in 2019 they may well have found him guilty. Salmond’s blah! Blah! here is the pot calling the kettle black. Clearly Sturgeon would have involved herself with Salmond in some way when she withheld information that would have incriminated him. This man is a blaggard and should not be given air time. He is not the epitome of decency as he tries to make out.

[@petergordon4525]

​@@alexd7029that's probably part of the reason she deleted messages from that time, because the truth about the Salmond enquiry would have been aired.

[@alexd7029]

@@petergordon4525 :- Exactly Peter and no lessons learned from the Salmond inquiry . Messages again were deleted by Sturgeon & Colleagues in 2022 and not made available for the ferries inquiry. Now we have the same for the covid inquiry. How on earth does N. Sturgeon and the SNP get away with this ? Cover up and gets worse by the minute with them.

[@classicraceruk1337]

Salmond doing his normal thing trying to divert the blame to Westminster.

[@RebelNine]

Indeed, managed to listen for first 7 minutes and, frankly, that was more than enough!

[@M0S3ST0NE]

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[@fraserbailey6347]

I have always looked quite favourably on Salmond. But not after this interview. He is totally full of ***.

[@M0S3ST0NE]

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[@amartin3893]

If Salmond thinks the number of people in Scotland who would like to see Holyrood and devolution abolished is minimal he's kidding himself. Devolution is damaging to Scotland. Personally I would get rid of it immediately, and many others in Scotland would too.

[@jpj-rx1zu]

You are in the minority, most people are n favour of devolution or even more so Independence !

[@amartin3893]

@@jpj-rx1zu According to nationalist polls. Don't make me laugh. Under devolution Scotland somehow made itself the poorest country in the UK. Scottish nationalism should be criminalized. It's done more harm to Scotland than anything else since 2008.

[@M0S3ST0NE]

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[@raygem1943]

Bluff 😡😡🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@grannye7638]

Look, to keep comparing Scotland with England and saying Scotland is superior is a madness. We should have a better quality of life we are a smaller country and if the SNP had have governed Scotland in a way that everything was superior to England then they may have got their independence. Come on Fraser put this dreamer in his place he had his opportunity.

[@jpj-rx1zu]

And Scotland wasn't superior when Labour was in power in Scotland !

[@M0S3ST0NE]

AI Chat is an AI chatbot that writes text. You can use it to write stories, messages, or programming code. You can use the AI chatbot as a virtual tutor in almost any subject.

[@Peter-nk3yq]

If only Westminster’s bad habits had not been copied, why, the Scottish Parliament would be perfect!

[@M0S3ST0NE]

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[@caberfeigh396]

Salmond talks about knife crime results when asked about drug deaths. These Nationalists just don’t get it.

[@M0S3ST0NE]

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[@Culbokie_croft]

The old strategy: "its worse down in Westminster". Salmond needs to refresh his approach. As a Scot living in Scotland I would like to see Holyrood turned into a hostel for homeless people.

[@fraserbailey6347]

'I would like to see Holyrood turned into a hostel for homeless people.' Well it is a hostel for hopeless people, so you're only one letter away.

[@aethellstan]

totally agree, his focus was on trying to divert rather than answer.

[@M0S3ST0NE]

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[@Music2Travel2Sport]

SNP - corrupt to the core

[@minixtvbox]

That's the Tories

[@HenryScott-d7g]

Not one SNP member has been charged with any offence.

[@hb1338]

@@HenryScott-d7g Who funds Police Scotland ?

[@hazelann63]

Woke and morally broke

[@johnnymac2143]

I'm 54. Lived under the nuclear threat since born. Nothing new!

[@classicraceruk1337]

Everyone living and born after the first Nuclear Bomb was dropped has been living under the Nuclear Threat.

[@M0S3ST0NE]

AI Chat is an AI chatbot that writes text. You can use it to write stories, messages, or programming code. You can use the AI chatbot as a virtual tutor in almost any subject.

[@steve24550]

Alex Salmond .... what a complete waste of time. He's entirely pre-occupied with his own legacy. Seems not to grasp the main thrust of the debate. Pitiful really.

[@memofromessex]

He can't be too concerned with his legacy - he was on RT until shamed and now he is on Turkish state TV. Next he'll do a Corbyn and appear on Iranian state TV. Utterly shameless.

[@M0S3ST0NE]

AI Chat is an AI chatbot that writes text. You can use it to write stories, messages, or programming code. You can use the AI chatbot as a virtual tutor in almost any subject.

[@joanr3189]

Alex Salmond appears to be a wily politician. Skilled at diversion.

[@dscotia]

The actions of the ScotGov during the Pandemic was a PR Front even more so than Westminster, totally and utterly controlled by Nicola with the smoke and mirrors thrown in for good measure from the BBC, up to a point. As for Nicola breaking devolution, drugs seems to be a great talking point but I feel any of us that enjoy a little drink are being penalised constantly, if it is the exclusion of deals at supermarkets, it's been the 50p a unit. Just Tax them all seems to be the cry!?🤔 But drugs get the vote and why? I'll be fuckD if I know🤷🏻‍♂️

[@indacage271]

Independence might be a idea if the didn’t have so many self serving political numpties up there.

[@kenleesuser1943]

Very clever Alex Salmond he has to dance between his hate for Sturgeon and not deride the SNP as an organisation because he was a founder member and in my view is awaiting a recall he can’t knock the Devolution because that’s what he needs remember his goal is an independent Scotland with him leading it.

[@M0S3ST0NE]

AI Chat is an AI chatbot that writes text. You can use it to write stories, messages, or programming code. You can use the AI chatbot as a virtual tutor in almost any subject.

[@littlepocketman3531]

Surely the powers that have been passed by the SNP would enable META to retrieve these messages?

[@nickgood8166]

They can't. GCHQ might be a better bet!

[@moraymac2922]

Scotland hasn’t had good governance since Salmond left. Sturgeon had a different agenda.

[@M0S3ST0NE]

AI Chat is an AI chatbot that writes text. You can use it to write stories, messages, or programming code. You can use the AI chatbot as a virtual tutor in almost any subject.

[@johnmoncrieff3034]

With regards to the SNP Alex put his finger on what is needed in "Mucking out the Byre" In other words clear out the shite that has piled up over the years! By that he means the secrecy and deliberate and utter incompetence of them to be of any benefit to the Scottish people!

[@M0S3ST0NE]

AI Chat is an AI chatbot that writes text. You can use it to write stories, messages, or programming code. You can use the AI chatbot as a virtual tutor in almost any subject.

[@AntPDC]

Fraser Nelson gave this divisive old toad far too easy a ride here. Salmond - cocky as ever and dismissively peddling his smug shtick - is the personal architect of the most divisive polity the UK has seen since 1707. He's the very personification of cognitive dissonance. His defensive attitude to eyewatering drug mortality in Scotland by his disingenuous comparison with knife crime in England merely reveals his inability to face facts - that Scotland is somehow "victimised". That he defends this by claiming that Scotland records drug mortality better than anywhere else in the entire World merely reveals his hypocrisy - even madness. A very poor show from Nelson here - the deranged Salmond grinning all the way in his multiple Scottish Exceptionalism obsessions. And this, despite what the SNP did to him. Blood and soil separatism courses through his blood, along with the rest of Scotland's wicked separatist politicos.

[@sisiphas]

Drug deaths where I live are typically of people who misuse many drugs. However the time between early use and death is usually around 15 years not the 25 years of devolution. So Salmond is being overly generous to the current SNP in suggesting the current deaths have their genesis pre-refrendum. They just don’t

[@M0S3ST0NE]

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[@charleslouden6600]

Did he not pass the mantle on to sturgeon.

[@paulsmith982]

Why on Earth did anyone think that devolution, introducing new levels of politicians and civil service, would improve things? Politicians and civil servants have never improved things. Politicians only think about the next election and civil servants only think about retirement. Doubling the amount of both will never make things better.

[@Suspended4thYT]

Absolute bollox. Things have been improved because those responsible for policies and expenditure in Scotland are NOT a minor department of a Government elected in England, but are part of a Government that was elected by the people of Scotland - using a far more democratic electoral system. Under devolution, the people of Scotland can throw out its Government if it so chooses. Without devolution, it can't. Without devolution, the majority of Scotland's domestic policy and spending priorities would have been under the control of a Tory party elected elsewhere and which Scotland has rejected for decades.

[@marieparker3822]

A computer genius can always reach 'deleted' messages, with a bit of effort.

[@M0S3ST0NE]

AI Chat is an AI chatbot that writes text. You can use it to write stories, messages, or programming code. You can use the AI chatbot as a virtual tutor in almost any subject.

[@michellelandale1187]

Alex shhhh it’s failed.

[@M0S3ST0NE]

AI Chat is an AI chatbot that writes text. You can use it to write stories, messages, or programming code. You can use the AI chatbot as a virtual tutor in almost any subject.

[@hamishmontgomery8758]

What an a⭐️⭐️🙄

[@philosophyweb]

The SNP never wanted Devolution and yet they have been running the devolved government for 17 years! How does this happen? They need to be replaced by a party that actually believes in devolution.

[@fortuner123]

If WhatsApp messages are deleted without being recorded, there should be a prison sentence. The government should have automatic access to all messages.

[@unbabunga229]

I’m a proud Englishman and I support Scottish independence! There’s a reason the Romans built Hadrians Wall!

[@davidcampbell3642]

You lot take the initiative, and piss off anytime you like.

[@davidfarrer3487]

If Hadrian's Wall were the border Newcastle United would be playing in the Scottish Premier League. Not only that, the two Charlton brothers would have been born in Scotland and Scotland would have won the 1966 World Cup!

[@unbabunga229]

@@davidcampbell3642 that doesn’t make any sense

[@davidcampbell3642]

@unbabunga229 My point is how can you be English and proud? You should be ashamed, laddie.

[@andrewwhite3793]

Alex has toned it down with a GE coming but if the figures are right and the SNP lose big time he will come in hard to take the SNP's place. Remember the SNP only has 30,000 members and a lot less if they lose big

[@monsieurgrigny]

This was a great interview. Fraser always so polite but forensic. Auld Alex put on the spot continuously.

[@thomasmccafferty8203]

Mass deletion a nightmare, the misappropriation of millions by Michelle and hubby, not even an issue. Thank goodness for good sense 😂😂😂😂😂😂

[@simonbennett6235]

Devolution has created another layer of in effective public sector bureaucracy ( no value creation jobs) and created division.The result- more self serving politicians and more taxes to pay for their existence. A downsizing of provincial and central parliaments would help with costs ( and help the taxpayer).

[@davidgeaves5671]

Drug misuse must be directly linked with underlying criminality. Focusing just on the supply side that shows weakness of policing, revenue, border and political administration.

[@iainlindsay5687]

It was always going to be that way sadly. devolution was never allowed to work when independence was the goal.

[@SiPhillipson]

He doesn't blame the system... He blames the people. BUT THE SYSTEM ALLOWS THE PEOPLE TO DO WHAT THEY DO!

[@M0S3ST0NE]

AI Chat is an AI chatbot that writes text. You can use it to write stories, messages, or programming code. You can use the AI chatbot as a virtual tutor in almost any subject.

[@Rangyplunk]

Load of crap.

[@mizmzappamizmzappa9548]

Independence will never make Scotland a better place. A lot of people were dedicated to the SNP myself included for decades full of hope and optimism for Scotland’s future. Now with an SNP majority council the poverty, degradation, abhorrent drug problems, illness, unemployment, bad management, planning , waste of money and resources and political dynasties misappropriation of public funds is sickening. It is no longer a party who looks out for the welfare of the Scottish people Sir Alex.

[@raygem1943]

Yesterday’s Man no more please 😡😡😡😡🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁳󠁣󠁴󠁿

[@johnstirling3940]

Give us a choice and we will vote to abolish Hollyrood! Waste of money.

[@jpj-rx1zu]

Would rather abolish the house of lords , and better still get Independence and let the people down south fund the house of lords on heir own !

[@carolspencer6915]

Good morning The Spectator, Fraser and Alex Not my usual Sunday morning breakfast viewing. However will blame the algorithms on this occasion.😀 Following more than a decade working as an Addiction Nurse and also having familial realities of alcohol dependency and harm this has and continues to create. I'm truly disappointed nobody seems willing to listen and look closer at the very real crisis these public services are currently experiencing. Long story very short. 💜

[@M0S3ST0NE]

AI Chat is an AI chatbot that writes text. You can use it to write stories, messages, or programming code. You can use the AI chatbot as a virtual tutor in almost any subject.

[@Kiltoonie]

Its quite clear that many Scots would vote to remain in the Union and without the terrible EU, which is a horrid mess right now.

[@jpj-rx1zu]

62% of Scots voted to remain in the European Union with even higher numbers now and latest opinion polls show a favour of 58% of Scots for Scottish Independence !

[@Kiltoonie]

I can't answer for idiots. The EU is a disaster zone. And Scottish Independence is a train crash. @@jpj-rx1zu

[@johnnymac2143]

He was and is still a self preserver.

[@lomotil3370]

🎯 Key Takeaways for quick navigation: 00:21 Dysfunction *in government.* 01:46 Sturgeon's *secrecy.* 02:56 Mass *deletion policy.* 03:25 Secrecy *issue in London.* 05:03 Devolution's *unmet ideals.* 06:44 Presentation *vs. reality.* 09:16 Flaws *in Devolution.* 10:51 Strengthening *institutions.* 13:36 Public *health improvements.* 16:08 Drug *abuse complexities.* 18:12 Mixed *outcomes of home rule.* 20:15 No *economic case.* 20:29 Sturgeon *missed chance.* 21:25 Independence *support stable.* 22:32 Alba *won't split.* 23:56 SNP *election shift.* 24:50 Alba's *democratic argument.* 26:41 Lack *of political will.* 28:04 Undoing *dark forces.* Made with HARPA AI

[@BillCameronWC]

Unfortunately there were too many amongst the bien pensants of Scottish politics & journalism, such as Fraser Nelson (he admitted as much years ago too) who thought devolution was a good idea. It still gives me no pleasure at all to reiterate that I was and remain totally opposed to devolution - I voted no to both questions in the devolution referendum. To be fair to Alex Salmond he did genuinely seem to act correctly in accordance with the rules laid down in the devolution legislation, unfortunately those rules have proved completely inadequate to cope with a shyster such as Sturgeon, who debauched the whole process.

[@paulmccabe2966]

Nelson has one of the most fake, pompous accent ever to leave the mouth of a Scot...

[@MrDannyyb]

Deeply flawed, but still a half dozen leagues above the Murrels & assorted lowlifes.

[@deslarcombe3448]

Very nice

[@rpb583]

I'm not an SNP supporter, far from it. But you could actually vote for him and not feel like you were doing yourself self-harm.

[@alanadair4893]

Salmons is not for me he is for himself

[@SimonLeicester]

He's in complete denial about the failure of the SNP and just resorts to the usual deflection blaming Westminster. Time to retire mate.

[@sisiphas]

Drug abuse is also related to university cities…sadly

[@barryyoung]

Are you serious - not too many university graduates in Drumchapel or Easterhouse. Do your research before you make silly comments

[@robertcook2572]

​@@barryyoungAnd there's me thinking that Glasgow was a city with a university and that Easterhouse and Drumchapel were districts thereof. What an ass I am!

[@sisiphas]

@@barryyoung do yours. Edinburgh’s heroin drug deaths for many years were within an ‘artistic community’ liked to the then art college, theatre a d certain cliques in uni. There it stayed for decades and was manageable until major and vicious NI drug syndicstes moved to Edinburgh and kicked it off there, as the bottom was falling out of their market with the NI peace process. They operated with impunity from two ‘schemes’ in Edinburgh snd it spread through the others. Different clientele, different drivers… the drivers in Dundee were different but the links to students initially were similar. Glasgow schemes were always rotten with drugs…but alcohol was snd remained the big killer.

[@memofromessex]

If only Salmond was uncorrupt as he is charming, then he'd make a good politician.

[@davidnichol6282]

Salmon was willing to work and Learn Sturgeon the political system and how it worked when it suited Salmon. I notice Salmon was quick to point out the way Sturgeon ran the SNP ran it was not the way he would have run it. Will Salmon appear before the inquiry also. ??

[@valbrown9935]

Why is there no like button?

[@jennyBaboolal-jq9gd]

Scotland does record drug deaths differently. Any death where drugs are noted is,a,drug death whether it be in a fire, car crash or other accident. It is not only deaths of drug addicts. This is not,done in the,same way in England.

[@theoutsider6191]

You have to say, Nicola Sturgeon is nowhere near the political operator Alex Salmond is. I'm no fan of SNP, but you can't fault how good a political operator Alex is.

[@alan2804]

Hilarious one sided Home Counties view of Scotlandshire.

[@steeznson]

Enjoyed that moment at the start where they talk about the magazine cover and Salmond almost says, "All is fair in love and war." Camera pans to Fraser and he's smirking.

[@bobgodwin9927]

He trained her well 😂😂😂

[@malcolmnash5850]

Alex, the voice of reason.

[@fergusalexander7301]

Fantastic interview. Thanks. I was hoping Mr Salmon would have given more ideas about improving the drug death situation. I think he felt you were attacking his legacy, instead of maybe looking for policies. I think the drug death problem is only going to get worse with fentanyl.

[@fountainwell49man65]

Alex: Nicola’s No.1 target, other than the Scottish people.

[@marco-58]

Unable to accept any accountability; "We are no worse than Westminster". Yes you are worse, due to incompetence, dishonesty, and the complete lack of scrutiny. Not a good mix.

[@jacquelinegraham4786]

Like another commentator, I am unable to listen to Salmond's drivel. Firstly get rid of SNP and secondly Devolution.

[@jpj-rx1zu]

Would rather get rid of the Tories in Scotland than devolution !

[@latexcitizenx]

End Embra rule NOW! Kind regards, Free Glasgow.

[@audreymcleod6262]

Wrong answers. Sorry

[@MosMunchyBox]

Rishi Sunak tells Covid inquiry he was not told to save WhatsApp messages

[@rabburns1382]

The Alphabet Women ...........😂... 😊 Where are they now...?

[@janazbojova7501]

Tedious stuff from Salmond who never seems to tire of bashing Westminster. Jeez this bitter man just hates the English with every utterance he makes!

[@alistairhood2345]

Lot of people on here, and when I say 'people', I mean flat out Unionists talking utter shite

[@kirstymacfarlane2117]

Why is the Spectator interviewing this utter has-been? "Wouldn't have happened under my administration." Right.

[@barryyoung]

I think it was perfectly reasonable to interview the ex leader of the SNP to get a perspective. Sadly all we got was how it wouldn’t have happened on his watch…..

[@salmonesque]

He's burying himself. Toby Jug blew it. He really let Scotland down.

[@Gozzillacia]

Humza Yousaf's unelected First Ministership has sunk the independence project as it has sunk the SNP. His suggestion that the country accept 1.5 million radicalise Palestinian Muslims shocked most Scots, and secretly sickened even the most diehard SNP fan. Then there is his hate-speech laws which have left the Scots the least free to speak freely country in Western Europe. And then there is his obsession and questionable connections with Gaza. An issue that seems to obsess him far more than anything happening in Scotland. On ALBA - what is the point of them? Cross ALBA with the SNP and all you get is the SNP ! Salmond is not even against Humza Yousaf's draconian anti-free speech laws that have gagged the Scots. He's as woke as the worst of them - he's only more sleeket.

[@kathwallace1811]

Mr Salmond and Ms Sturgeon have failed Scotland.

[@mmcc5846]

Kath Wallace unionists have failed Scotland

[@mmcc5846]

Kath Wallace unionists have failed Scotland

[@mmcc5846]

Kath Wallace unionists have failed Scotland

[@liborsionko]

Alex comments interesting. Fraser wishful thinking.

[@leeanthony8034]

Groper

[@kevin-scot-7079]

If it wasn't for the union Scotland would be a banana republic

[@andrewbest-zr9qe]

So the snp has ruined so much in scotland but thats ok because its not parliament doing it?

[@christopherduffy9680]

How much does it cost each year to run and administer the Scottish parliament, I expect a lot and that's before the government a penny of tax payers money on vanity projects. Why pay for two sets of idiots?

[@roders007]

Another great program

[@fraserct533]

A 29 min interview with Alex Salmond where the 1st mention of independence is at 18:48 - that says it all 🤣 Good job Fraser it was 99% self imolliation but at least you handed him the matches. Signs are that the SNP is self desteucting in any case - looks like Nicola's on the take & Humza Paisley harbours biggoted hatred of 95% of the Scottish people❗

[@chilloutbehappy4814]

Salmond must be rubbing his hands , waiting for his alba party to jump in , but we dont forget

[@gerardshannon4441]

He's trying to soften you up Alex like the snake in Jungle Book

[@ashcross]

Scotland's extraordinary drug deaths are due to a better class of measurement in Scotland! And blaming Scottish government corruption on "picking up bad habits from Westminster"! My goodness, Alex, you are as full of bluster as you ever were! Why not, for once, take responsibility?

[@stuartsutherland7664]

As a resident in Scotland I think devolution has been a success. The failure has been the opposition parties in Holyrood. They just don't seem to offer a desirable alternative to the SNP administration, that and the mainstream media's light touch analysis of the SNP government.

[@annsoutar513]

Why is anyone in government using WhatsApp