Alex Salmond disagrees with Humza Yousaf and ‘would not describe’ Nicola Sturgeon as ‘Europe’s most spectacular politician’

Alex Salmond has mentioned he disagrees with Scotland’s new first minister and would not describe Nicola Sturgeon as Europe’s “most impressive” politician.

Mr Salmond, an ex-SNP chief and former first minister, mentioned Ms Sturgeon has as an alternative left a troublesome legacy of “pretty absurd and silly policies”.

Speaking to Sky News, Mr Salmond mentioned his “strong advice” to new First Minister Humza Yousaf is to “sweep that nonsense away” and focus on the important thing problems with housing, training and well being to “restore confidence” within the Scottish authorities.

The Alba Party chief’s feedback come after Mr Yousaf declared on Tuesday that Ms Sturgeon was the “most impressive politician I think we have seen in Europe”.

Mr Salmond informed Kay Burley on Wednesday: “Well, that wouldn’t be quite my description.”

Mr Yousaf described his predecessor as an “asset” to the SNP amid requires the 52-year-old to be suspended after she was arrested and launched with out cost amid a police probe into the occasion’s funding and funds.

Mr Salmond praised Ms Sturgeon’s communication abilities however mentioned she has left a “very difficult policy legacy for her successor”.

He mentioned: “She’s left a troublesome coverage agenda within the Scots Parliament, stuffed with, you recognize, fairly absurd and foolish insurance policies like self-identification, closing fishing areas, bottle schemes, [and] abolishing some trials by jury.

“Now, you are by no means going to get a majority of Scots behind such insurance policies, and my sturdy recommendation to Humza Yousaf is to brush that nonsense away.

“Concentrate on the key issues of housing, education, health, and restore confidence in the Scottish government’s running of the Scottish Parliament.”

Ms Sturgeon was arrested on Sunday and questioned for round seven hours as a part of Operation Branchform.

The long-running Police Scotland inquiry is linked to the spending of round £600,000 raised by SNP supporters and earmarked for Scottish independence campaigning. It is known there have been complaints the ringfenced money has been used improperly by being spent elsewhere.

Ms Sturgeon, who has denied any wrongdoing, is the third high-profile SNP member to be arrested in reference to the probe.

Her husband, ex-SNP chief govt Peter Murrell, and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie had been each arrested and later launched with out cost again in April.

Mr Yousaf has denied being “weak” for not taking motion towards Ms Sturgeon.

Mr Salmond defended Mr Yousaf’s stance however added each Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell suspended folks “at the drop of a hat” once they had been in cost.

He mentioned: “I actually think that Humza Yousaf has set a perfectly defensible line – the presumption of innocence. You don’t suspend people until they are charged with something, and that hasn’t happened as yet.

“His issue, in fact, is that wasn’t the place adopted by Nicola Sturgeon or Peter Murrell the chief govt, her husband, once they had been in energy. I imply, they used to droop folks on the drop of a hat mainly.”

Read extra:
Who is on the centre of the investigation?
The inside story of SNP police probe
Timeline of the SNP’s woes

Mr Salmond mentioned Mr Yousaf has made the “right decision” to not droop Ms Sturgeon however he added: “The SNP’s under a substantial financial cloud. It’s not going away anytime soon. It’s not about one individual. It’s a systemic argument about what the SNP’s been doing.

“And due to this fact, Humza actually, and he has to do that fairly shortly, has to set out a brand new agenda to stamp his mark on being first minister versus simply being seen as Nicola Sturgeon’s candidate, Nicola Sturgeon’s successor.

“He really needs to put his own mark on being first minister.”