Alex Salmond suspends RT show

Alex Salmond has suspended his TV which aired on Kremlin-backed RT “until further notice”.

The former first minister has hosted his chat show on the channel since 2017.

The decision was made amid increasing calls for him to sever ties with the broadcaster in light of aggression from Russia.

But Salmond said Thursday’s show will be the last episode “until a peace is re-established”, following the invasion of Ukraine.

Salmond said: “The efforts of every single person should be to re-establish the peace. That certainly is our focus, and therefore Slainte Media have decided to suspend the Alex Salmond Show until that can be secured.

“All wars come to an end. Let us pray that this one will not escalate even further. Now every single persons’ efforts should turn to supporting attempts to regain the peace,” he added.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon yesterday said she was “appalled” at Salmond’s continued involvement with RT.

She said: “I don’t think it’s any secret now that I don’t think he should ever have had a television show on RT, but it is even more unthinkable now that that should continue.”

She also said there were “very serious questions” for Ofcom about whether RT should continue to have a license to broadcast in the UK.

On Wednesday Boris Johnson revealed that Nadine Dorries, the Secretary of State for Culture, had written to Ofcom asking them to look into it.