Can the Nationalists king lead his party from Westminster?
THERE was only one question among Scottish MPs in London yesterday: Alex Salmond’s critics and political opponents, internal and otherwise, wanted to know how he could lead the SNP from Westminster now that the Scottish Parliament is up and running. Mr Salmond had anticipated the challenge and the word was out early among his supporters to turn a potential problem into a virtue. Not only did they insist there was no difficulty, they claimed it was a positive advantage, because of the sense of disillusionment with the Scottish Executive and disappointment with devolution. There may be another practical point. Westminster is a bigger stage the focus of national and international media attention. For a party languishing in the polls, with an active membership down to 8500, and desperately in need of financial help, it may be a better shop window for Mr Salmond to make the Nationalists’ case. Mr Salmond threw his hat in the ring with the enthusiastic endorsement of his Westminster colleagu
