THE Liberal Democrats have launched a 'stop Alex Salmond' appeal in a bid to build an election war chest aimed at thwarting the former First Minister's return to Westminster.
It has emerged that the party has sent out an email to pro-union supporters asking for donations to help fund the campaign of its candidate, Christine Jardine, who is standing in the Gordon constituency in May.
The email, which has been circulated to people who have supported online party campaigns in the past including the recent referendum, states: "Alex Salmond wants to come to Westminster and continue his fight for independence. Help Christine Jardine to stop him" and invites recipients to give £5, £15, £35 or £50 to the cause.
An article published on the Liberal Democrat Voice website also suggests that anyone who wants Mr Salmond to lose should donate to Ms Jardine's campaign.
The party said it was unable to provide figures for how much has been donated so far, but that Ms Jardine had received support from "across the political spectrum".
A Liberal Democrat spokesman said: "People understand that Gordon is a clear two horse race between the nationalists and Christine Jardine. They know the last thing the North East of Scotland needs is an MP who is more interested in re-running the referendum than standing up for Gordon."
However, both the SNP and the Conservatives criticised the appeal, the details of which emerged after the Liberal Democrats had publicly criticised the nationalists for indicating the Gordon campaign was "all about Mr Salmond".
North East Scotland SNP MSP Christian Allard said that the email showed it was the Liberals were were "becoming obsessed with Alex Salmond".
He added: "This is desperate stuff from the Lib Dems. Recent polling shows many people who voted No in the referendum - as well a majority of 2010 voting Liberal voters - are prepared to back Mr Salmond's candidacy, as are people from across the political spectrum."
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