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RSSSalmond's courtship of Murdoch continues
SNP activists are said to be dismayed by Salmond's behaviour.
By George Eaton Published 06 March 2012 14:00
How far will Alex Salmond go in his bid to woo Rupert Murdoch? The Scottish First Minister has met the Sun King or his executives 26 times since taking office and exclusively revealed to the Scottish Sun on Sunday his planned referendum date of 18 October 2014.
Now it's emerged that Murdoch and Salmond also discussed the notable subject of corporation tax at their recent meeting. According to former Murdoch confidant, Andrew Neil, the News Corp head indicted that he could move BSkyB's headquarters to Edinburgh if an independent Scotland slashed corporation tax from 26 per cent (the UK rate) to 10 per cent. In return, Murdoch, who has already tweeted his support for Scottish independence, could swing his tabloids behind Salmond's campaign. Writing in the Daily Mail, Kelvin MacKenzie suggested that the SNP leader was giving "serious thought to the idea".
Given Salmond's record of sycophancy towards Murdoch that is no surprise. Following a meeting with Murdoch in New York in October 2007, he wrote:
I enjoyed our conversation and, as ever, found your views both insightful and stimulating.
On another occasion, after the opening of News International's Eurocentral printing plant in Motherwell, Salmond fawned:
Thank you so much for the invitation to open the splendid new plant at Eurocentral. I hope that News International goes from strength to strength and that your "big bet" in newspapers will pay off.
Salmond was eventually rewarded when the Scottish Sun backed the SNP at the last Holyrood election and when the paper's executives treated him to a curry dinnner after his party's remarkable victory.
For now, with the SNP determined to maintain unity ahead of the referendum, Salmond's behaviour is unlikely to be challenged. But it's unsurprising to learn from the Daily Record that grassroots activists are dismayed by their leader's actions.
Tags: Alex Salmond Rupert Murdoch
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George Eaton is editor of The Staggers blog
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19 comments
In an ideal world all newspapers would give fair, balanced coverage to all of the main political parties and the Morning Star and papers with a more alternative view of the world than a neo-liberal viewpoint would be mainstream. But until that utopia is reached the reality is 90% of the UK newspapers are right wing. Labour (Record/Mirror aside) and the SNP had no choice but to try and get better coverage in the media after decades of bias against them, and if that means the Sun is prepared to give them more time and space to even up the onslaught from the Daily Mail, Telegraph etc then so be it.
It's all getting a bit dirty and personal at the moment. God knows what New Labour supporters will resort to closer to the referendum. There's a real difference the camps approach. One has a positive message the other is seriously negative.
I'd hardly cite the Daily Record as an authoritative and impartial source given its Labour leanings...
What's he supposed to say? "Mummy told me not to talk to bad men"? It's a risky endeavor but you just can't ignore NI.
There`s nothing positive about Alex Salmond licking Rupert Murdoch`s arse.
What do you mean by "God knows what New Labour supporters will resort to closer to the referendum"? - you're not seriously suggesting that clandestine Labour party agents fabricated this ongoing bromance through cunning wiles and guile? Wow, I had no idea they were that good!
SNP grassroots activists dismayed? Why? Haven't they realised that a) Salmond is just another capitalist politico on the make, and as such has to put the interests of that class first; b) and as the most influential media tycoon, the Dirty Digger has to be sucked up to big time to garner his support for Alex's overweening lust for power.
For those Scots dumb enough to think there will be substantial change if they gain "independence", it's time to think again.
Nothing positive, no, but it's tactically brilliant nonetheless.
Trevor.
That is all
Since the rest of the UK media in its entirety is partisan, biased, and wholly unobjective about Scottish independence, NI support will redress the balance.
Ho ho ho.
Quoting the Daily Retard is like citing the Daily Mail on Islam.
Daily Retard is a commonly used phrase to describe the Record. You should here what Scots call the Sun, Telegraph, Mail and the Scotsman. The print media are held in wide regard in Scotland. The same goes for BBC
Forget what the Daily Record is trying to tell us, and why. Most SNP observers seem to perceive that its Murdoch that's pursuing the courtship. His aims may not be the same as the SNP, but if he's willing to assist, he'll be allowed to, with careful monitoring.
Q Why would SNP activists be dismayed by Salmond`s behaviour?
A Because Alex Salmond, an outstanding politician and citizen of Scotland, is liasing/courting with a man who, (with reference to the hacking of peoples` phone (especially Milly Dowler`s phone)), has proven himself to be a thoroughly dispicible character. Not what you want to see from the leader of your political party.
How many dictators's hands have Blair, Brown and Cameron have shook?
How many of these dicators have openly welcomed Blair, Brown and Cameron as friends?
Cameron, Miliband and Clegg got champagne and oysters from the Murdochs. Poor Rupert only got a cup of tea and a biscuit.
New stateman's pathetic and desperate attempt to smear SNP continues
@Callum
Using phrases such as Daily Retard makes the SNP look like an unpleasant group of knuckle draggers.
Just to remind you - it is meant to be the Scottish Nationalist Party not the Scum Nationalist Party
You sound wounded, ISC. I'm sure you'll admit that the Record is a biased rag though, wouldn't you?
Thanks for your kind thoughts, Trevor. As one of those many Scots dumb enough to think that independence will make a difference, I'd like to wish you good luck in your future shrunken empire of Tweedledum-Tweedledee politics.
Salmond is supposedly a socialist who is pro-european and would have the Euro as the currency of an Independent Scotland.
What on earth would he find to talk about with Rupert Murdoch?