IN Ann Williamson’s letter yesterday she asks those using the word populist to elaborate; actually she asks those using it as an insult to elaborate.
I certainly do not use that word as an insult to describe Salmond’s return to politics but more a simple statement of what he has turned out to be.
The similarities between him and the ex-president of the USA are quite striking in that he is promising outcomes he cannot possibly achieve given the size of his support.
His announcements about pushing for the referendum and what currency an independent Scotland should use, along with statements on Trident, are all soundbites designed quite cleverly to gather those who feel disenfranchised to his banner.
READ MORE: Could those using ‘populist’ to insult Alex Salmond please elaborate?
He is also using social media to undermine the excellent work achieved by the SNP government, and one only need read the blogs of his supporters to understand the deep-rooted hatred of the SNP leadership that they have. Quite why the Alba party bloggers-in-chief think this way, well they did not get their way within the party so now they attempt to tarnish it with their spite.
So yes, Ann, Salmond is a populist leader in every sense of the word and quite why he has chosen to use this election to get his pie-in-the-sky supermajority is a question with many possible answers, none of them nice and all of them centred on Alex Salmond, populist leader.
What we have to remember is that Salmond failed in 2014 as a politician and from his “day in court” we have also learned he failed to maintain standards of behaviour expected of someone in high office.
There is a military saying that goes along the lines that if you use weapons and tactics of past campaigns in a future one you will lose. Well that is what Salmond is bringing to a campaign as he is very much yesterday’s man.
Finally I would like to finish with a direct quote from an Alba Party supporter, on social media. His reply was to a suggestion that Alex Salmond was not being progressive.
“Not progressive? Ah you must be insinuating they’re not into gender politics like the SNP and Greens? Both of those can become the party of snowflakes if they want. I’m just glad the Alba Party aim to preserve the right of women as they are.”
I did respond to him stating he sounded just like a Trump supporter but as yet I have had no reply.
Cliff Purvis
Veterans for Independence 2.0
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