Even in her absence, Nicola Sturgeon dominated Iain Dale’s discussion with Alex Salmond and David Davis at the Edinburgh festival. Dale invited them both to comment on George Galloway’s suggestion that Sturgeon is ‘Mrs Thatcher in a kilt.’
Salmond flatly rejected this caricature. (Evidently he knows that criticising her in public will do him no favours.) Davis also dismissed the comparison. ‘Mrs Thatcher’s favourite pastime was arguing with people. Nicola wasn’t like that,’ he said, recalling the meetings he held with her during his term as Brexit secretary. ‘Nicola was very passive, very difficult to engage with. She adopted the image of a stern, domineering woman – which a lot of men like.’
Dale turned to the aftermath of her resignation which has seriously damaged the independence cause.
‘It’s tanking in the polls,’ he said. ‘And nothing’s going to change until the investigations are over.’
‘Tanking? That’s a bit strong,’ said Salmond. He quoted statistics offering a more upbeat view.
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