Alex Salmond urged to apologise over Edinburgh Fringe sex joke

Alex Salmond: Picture credit - Lesley Martin/PA Wire/PA Images

Alex Salmond has been urged to apologise after he appeared to joke about having sex with leading female politicians – including Nicola Sturgeon.

The former SNP leader – who lost his seat at the general election in June – told the bawdy gag at the opening performance of his one-man show at the Edinburgh Fringe.

He said: “I promised you today we'd either have Theresa May, or Nicola Sturgeon, or Ruth Davidson, or Melania Trump, but I couldn't make any of these wonderful women come.” Following a drum roll, Salmond added: “To the show.”

Labour MSP Monica Lennon said: “It would be wrong to laugh these comments off as a bit of banter, this is a former First Minister degrading female politicians. Alex Salmond should know that comments like these are simply unacceptable and he should apologise. 

“It would set a horrendous example to young men if he tries to hide behind these sexist comments as risque humour.”

But a spokesman for Salmond told The Herald he would not apologise.

He said: “Don't be absurd. They are green at the gills. Scottish Labour are just miffed they didn't get a mention. They should enter into the spirit of the Fringe. It's the Edinburgh Fringe we are at, not fringe politics with Labour.”