Alex Salmond dreams of pulling the post-election strings
ALEX SALMOND has vowed to throw the UK into chaos by bringing down a minority Tory government while comparing himself to Nelson Mandela.
The former SNP leader also predicted his party would win a “barrel-load” of seats at the forthcoming general election and hold the balance of power across the UK.
And he also claimed that the SNP was different from other political parties because it was a “cause”.
Last night the former First Minister, who is standing in the Gordon seat being vacated by veteran Lib Dem Sir Malcolm Bruce, was accused of being “egotistical” by comparing himself to the great South African anti-apartheid leader.
In an interview with the latest edition of left-leaning magazine The New Statesman, Mr Salmond said: “The great secret weapon of the SNP is that it is a cause, an objective and an ideal.
"And when you’ve got an objective and an ideal the rest of the stuff is not nearly as important.”
And he vowed to bring down a minority Tory government at the first opportunity and then prop up a Labour one instead.
Nelson Mandela. Everybody of my generation would say that
The First Minister was then asked which political figure he most identifies with.
He said: “Nelson Mandela. Everybody of my generation would say that.”
The claim was seized upon by the Scottish Conservatives.
The party’s Alex Johnstone MSP said: “This is an incredibly egotistical comparison, but not one that will surprise anyone who knows the former First Minister.
"His own Long Walk to Freedom fell short – not that you’d know from the way he is behaving in this latest bout of media seducing.”
A Conservative spokesman added: “Alex Salmond has confirmed he would sabotage the democratic will of the British people in order to make Ed Miliband prime minister.
"That would mean chaos for Britain, with weak Ed Miliband dancing to Alex Salmond’s tune.
"The only way to protect Trident, keep Britain together and safeguard the economy is to vote Conservative on May 7.”
