Alex Massie Alex Massie

When Rupert Met Alex

So Rupert Murdoch had lunch with Alex Salmond at Bute House today. At a time when politicians are scurrying to distance themselves from the Dirty Digger he is still welcome in Edinburgh. This annoys, even angers, many of Salmond’s own supporters (see Kate Higgins for example) and, I daresay or if Gerry Hassan is a useful indicator, most of the rest of public Scotland too. Anyone but Rupert!

Well, fine. The important thing here is not what Salmond thinks of Murdoch but what Rupert thinks of Alex. Their chumminess is another indicator that Salmond, whatever the SNP’s leftwing think or hope, has no intention of turning an independent Scotland into a socialist basketcase. Granted, this has been obvious for some time but it is always useful to have more evidence to support this notion.

I think it possible to argue that Salmond’s relationship with Murdoch (like his past relationships with Donald Trump and Fred Goodwin) demonstrates that Salmond is too easily impressed by wealthy businessmen and too quick to get too close to them.

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