ALEX Salmond has been urged to apologise for telling a “degrading” joke about him having sex with senior female politicians, including his successor Nicola Sturgeon.
The former First Minister’s orgasm joke also referenced the Prime Minister, Scottish Tory leader Ruth Davidson and President Trump’s wife Melania.
Scottish Labour called his attempt at humour “a horrendous example to young men”.
Mr Salmond’s spokesman said Labour, which is led by another woman, Kezia Dugdale, were “just miffed they didn’t get a mention”.
Mr Salmond, 62, made the comment on Sunday, on the first day of Alex Salmond Unleashed, his sell-out £22.50-a-head chat show on the Edinburgh Fringe.
The former SNP leader said: “I promised you today we’d either have Theresa May, or Nicola Sturgeon, or Ruth Davidson or Melania Trump, but I couldn’t make any of these wonderful women come...”
There was then a “bad dum” on the drums, before he added: “.. to the show”.
MSP Monica Lennon, Scottish Labour’s equalities spokesperson, said: “It would be wrong to laugh these comments off as a bit of banter, this is a former First Minister degrading female politicians.
“Alex Salmond should know that comments like these are simply unacceptable and he should apologise.
“It would set a horrendous example to young men if he tries to hide behind these sexist comments as risque humour.”
Talat Yaqoob, chair of the cross-party Women 50:50 group, which campaigns for more female MSPs, said: “I don’t think it is an appropriate joke to be making.
“Aside from it not being particularly funny, it illustrates the sexism women experience despite being at a high level of leadership.
“Any such sexualisation by a former First Minister is particularly disappointing as he should be more aware of the impact of his words.”
Scottish Tory MSP Murdo Fraser said: “Alex Salmond has gone from being Scotland’s First Minister to a bore propping up the bar in the space of a few years. He certainly won’t be troubling the judging panel for fringe joke of the year with that offering.”
Mr Salmond, who lost his Gordon seat in June, cut the joke from the second day of his show.
Although he mentioned the same four female politicians, he removed the sexual innuendo, saying: “Now obviously there is no way I could book any of these acts, but I know a women who could do it – please welcome the ever versatile [resident comedian] Janey Godley.”
On the same day Mr Salmond made his joke, Ms Sturgeon was denouncing sexism.
The First Minister joined a wave of criticism of the footwear firm Clarks, after it marketed a range of girls’ shoes called Dolly Babe and a boys’ line Leader.
Ms Sturgeon tweeted: “It is almost beyond belief that in 2017 a major company could think this is in any way acceptable. Shows what we are still up against.”
The Dolly Babe range was withdrawn as a result of the protests.
Responding to Labour, a spokesperson for Mr Salmond said: “Don't be absurd. They are green at the gills. Scottish Labour are just miffed they didn't get a mention.
“They should enter into the spirit of the Fringe. It's the Edinburgh Fringe we are at, not fringe politics with Labour."
Both Ms Sturgeon’s office and the SNP declined to comment.
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