Downing Street urges Alex Salmond to ditch Russia Today chat show Downing Street has urged Alex Salmond to ditch plans to host a controversial new chat show on state-funded Russian TV, […]

Downing Street has urged Alex Salmond to ditch plans to host a controversial new chat show on state-funded Russian TV, it was reported.

The former First Minister has come in for fierce criticism since announcing he is to present his own weekly show on Russia Today from Thursday.

Downing Street’s call to “reconsider”, reported by the website Politics Home, came after Theresa May accused Vladimir Putin of using “state-run media organisations” to destabilise countries in the West.

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Sturgeon: It wouldn’t have been my choice

Earlier Nicola Sturgeon, his successor as SNP leader and Scottish First Minister, said “his choice of channel would not have been my choice”.

She added: “Alex is not currently an elected politician and is free to do as he wishes – but had I been asked, I would have advised against RT and suggested he seek a different channel to air what I am sure will be an entertaining show.”

In a further blow for Mr Salmond, a Number Ten source said: “As members of his own party have urged, Mr Salmond might do well to reconsider his curious decision to host a programme on Russia Today.

“This association with a country that seeks to undermine the international order will worry members of the public.”

But Mr Salmond was unrepentant, telling the BBC: “I appeared on RT programmes when I was still a Member of Parliament.

“It would be a bit strange if I said ‘now I’m no longer a Member of Parliament I’m refusing to make my own show with my own production company over which I have total editorial control.

“If it turns out to be Kremlin propaganda, then people can slate me.”