Scottish Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael kicked off the Scottish Liberal Democrat conference in Perth by saying that “nationalism is still nationalism”
THE SNP has hit back at Scottish Liberal Democrat MP Alistair Carmichael after he kicked off the party’s spring conference by comparing Alex Salmond to Nigel Farage.
Carmichael told delegates attending the Scottish Liberal Democrat conference in Perth that the decisions that Alex Salmond wants for Scotland are the same as the former Ukip leader, prompting the SNP into a stinging response.
Carmichael said at the conference: “The rise of nationalism, wherever it is found, challenges our liberal values. Let us be quite clear about this: the answer to nationalism is never more nationalism. Dress it up any way you like, but nationalism is still nationalism.
“Alex Salmond will tell you that all he wants is for decisions about Scotland to be made in Scotland.
“How is that different at its heart from Nigel Farage wanting to take back control? Or even Donald Trump wanting to do deals, great deals, that put America first? Nationalists will talk about values but ascribe them to a particular country or people.”
However, an SNP spokesperson hit back, saying that Carmichael had “rich form for making up slurs for political gain” – a nod to the ‘Frenchgate’ controversy when Carmichael authorised the leaking of a memo to the media which falsely claimed Nicola Sturgeon privately wanted the Conservatives to win the 2015 General Election. Carmichael nearly lost his parliamentary seat after local constituents took him to court over the affair. They raised more than £200,000 through crowdfunding to cover the costs.
“The rise of nationalism, wherever it is found, challenges our Liberal values. Let us be quite clear about this. The answer to nationalism is never more nationalism. Dress it up any way you like, but nationalism is still nationalism.” Carmichael
The SNP spokesperson said: “Alistair Carmichael has rich form for making up slurs for political gain – which is just one of the reasons nobody will listen to this bizarre outburst.
“The SNP speaks loudly for a welcome, inclusive, outward-looking Scotland. Comparing supporters of Scottish independence to Trump and Farage shows just how out of touch the Scottish Lib Dem leadership has become – and ordinary Lib Dem members will be appalled by it.”
Carmichael’s rhetoric follows that of London Mayor Sadiq Khan, who wrote in the Daily Record ahead of his speech to the Scottish Labour party faithful in Perth a couple of weeks ago that there is no real difference between those voting for an independent Scotland and “trying to divide us on the basis of background, race or religion”.
Khan also compared the SNP to politicians like Donald Trump, who he said seek to fuel division.
His comments infuriated Scotland’s first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, who said: “It is an insult to all those Scots who support independence for reasons of inclusion and social justice – the antithesis of what he says and it is a sign of the sheer desperation and moral bankruptcy that has driven so many from Scottish Labour’s ranks.”
Khan later sought to tone down his language, saying: “Of course I’m not saying that nationalists are somehow racists or bigoted.”
“Alistair Carmichael has rich form for making up slurs for political gain – which is just one of the reasons nobody will listen to this bizarre outburst.” SNP
He went on to say that London and Scotland are “twin beacons of progressive values”.
Meanwhile, Carmichael went on to tell the conference that UK Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn is stopping his party north of the border speaking for a majority of Scots.
The former Scottish secretary blamed Corbyn for not listening to the majority of Scots who voted for the UK to remain part of the EU.
He said: “If you are a Scot that wants Scotland to remain part of the United Kingdom, and you want the United Kingdom to remain part of Europe, then only the Liberal Democrats will speak for you.
“The irony, of course, is that there is another party which could have spoken for that same majority of Scots. It could have been the Labour party.
“Remember them?
“The irony, of course, is that there is another party which could have spoken for that same majority of Scots. It could have been the Labour Party.” Carmichael
“They too, are an internationalist party by philosophy and instinct. They are apparently now also a federalist party. Welcome to the club, guys. It has taken them a while to get here, but they are welcome just the same.
“So yes, the Labour party in Scotland could have spoken for that same majority of Scots – but for one thing, or, should I say, one man: Jeremy Corbyn.”
Picture courtsey of David Thomson
Check out what people are saying about how important CommonSpace is. Pledge your support today.
[[{“fid”:”4782″,”view_mode”:”default”,”fields”:{“format”:”default”,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:false,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:false},”type”:”media”,”field_deltas”:{“1”:{“format”:”default”,”field_file_image_alt_text[und][0][value]”:false,”field_file_image_title_text[und][0][value]”:false}},”attributes”:{“height”:”292″,”width”:”559″,”class”:”media-element file-default”,”data-delta”:”1″},”link_text”:false}]]