On his RT television show this morning, Alex Salmond shrugged-off criticism that, by working for the Russians, he has reduced himself from erstwhile statesman to useful idiot. Look, he said, RT is no different from the BBC, ITV or Sky. It is regulated by Ofcom and so, “by definition”, cannot be a “propaganda station”.
“I hold no brief from the Kremlin, nor am I required to have [one]” Salmond said. “No-one has tried to influence the contents of this show in any way, shape or form whatsoever.”
But then they don’t need to, do they? Not when, as evidence of his editorial freedom, Salmond is happy to offer a platform, as he did this morning, to expert analysts such as Annie Machon. Machon, a former MI5 officer and former partner of fellow-officer-turned-conspiracy-nut David Shayler, has carved out a doubtless lucrative niche as a peddler of fantastical conspiracy claims. She has argued, for instance, that British intelligence was intimately involved in the death
Comments
Join the debate for just $5 for 3 months
Be part of the conversation with other Spectator readers by getting your first three months for $5.
UNLOCK ACCESS Just $5 for 3 monthsAlready a subscriber? Log in