ALEX Salmond has launched an attack on economists, politicians and the BBC describing them as “merchants of doom” after reporting on predictions that the Scottish economy was on the brink of recession.

In his first major intervention since losing his Gordon seat at the General Election, the former First Minister claimed Unionist parties were hoping for bad news on the economy as a means of strengthening their anti-independence case as he hit out of media coverage.

----------------

Alex Salmond: Merchants of doom are wrong about the economy – Scotland has rarely had it so good

----------------

His comments are made in an article in today’s National and come after official figures showed Scotland’s economy grew by 0.8 per cent in the first quarter of 2017, a rate four times more than that of the UK as a whole.

The statistics, published by the Scottish Government on Wednesday, show the economy rebounding thanks to a surge in manufacturing and a strong performance in industries linked to North Sear oil.

But they come after Strathclyde University’s Fraser of Allander Institute forecast Scotland’s economy was in a “precarious position” suggesting a recession was “in the balance” and that the Scottish economy seemed to be “stuck in a cycle of weak growth”.

Salmond said forecasts in economics were often unwise.

“No doubt a few Fraser of Allander economists are pondering that very subject this very morning as the full extent of their misreading of Scottish economic statistics has been laid bare. It may be time once again to bring out the the legendary ‘Fraser eraser’,” he writes.

“However, whatever the embarrassment for the Fraser Institute, it is as of nothing compared to the abject humiliation of Unionist politicians, the mainstream media and the BBC.

“They have all been holed amidships ... the bandwagon jumpers wished to turn the drama of a single forecast into a full- scale economic crisis.”

He added: “In one fell swoop they have all been laid low and if the SNP Government is sensible they will endeavour to remind these merchants of doom of that on a daily basis for many months to come. It is the economy stupid and there is nothing more stupid than a politician who misreads the economy.”

He continued: “The Unionist parties, of course, are not worried about a recession. They were seized of the opportunity to blame the prospect of an independence referendum for Scotland’s sluggish performance ... all of that has come to nought.

“If there is any direct relationship between talking up independence and talking up the Scottish economy the evidence suggests it is a positive one.”

Scottish Labour’s economy spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “Nobody is listening to Alex Salmond anymore.

“In his world, if the economy is struggling it’s all Westminster’s fault and when it’s improving it’s all down to the SNP. And his continued attacks on the BBC are the mark of an ex-politician with far too much time on his hands.

“Voters know that Scotland’s economy is struggling thanks to Alex Salmond’s obsession with independence, and it’s time he reflected on that – rather than penning nonsense like this.”

No-one from the Scottish Conservatives could be reached last night, but speaking on Wednesday Scottish Secretary David Mundell said the figures were “encouraging”.

The Fraser of Allander Institute declined to comment.

A spokesperson for the BBC said: “Our coverage focussed on reporting expert economic indicators to which we gave full context and analysis. We made it clear in our coverage of the original Fraser of Allander report last week and the official figures published on Wednesday that regardless of whether Scotland was technically in recession or not, it’s the general trend that is important.

“Our output on Sunday Politics, Good Morning Scotland and Reporting Scotland had contributions from all sides reflecting on this.”