Alex Salmond to give evidence to Westminster inquiry into Scottish and UK government relations

Former first minister Alex Salmond will give evidence to a House of Commons inquiry into relations between the Scottish and UK governments.

The Scottish Affairs Committee launched an inquiry last year into how relations between Holyrood and Westminster have evolved in the 25 years of devolution.

Salmond, who now leads the Alba Party after quitting the SNP, will appear before MPs on Tuesday at 10am where he will discuss his relationship with former prime ministers Tony Blair, Gordon Brown and David Cameron.

The 69-year-old was Scottish first minister from 2007 until 2014 following the loss of the independence referendum in September of that year.

The Scottish Affairs Committee confirmed that Nicola Sturgeon is also set to give evidence to the inquiry on April 29.

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon will appear before the Scottish Affairs Committee in April.

The cross-party group, led by SNP MP Pete Wishart, has already heard from former Scottish secretaries Douglas Alexander, Lord Browne and Baroness Liddell.

Wishart said all living former first ministers have pledged to appear before the inquiry and said all former prime ministers present during devolution will be asked to give evidence too.

However, it’s understood no former PMs will give evidence to the inquiry.

It comes as relations between governments north and south of the border become increasingly strained.

Former deputy FM John Swinney accused Scottish secretary Alister Jack of being of “no value” during the pandemic while the Tory minister suggested Sturgeon had faked crying during her appearance at the UK Covid Inquiry.

The UK and Scottish governments have also taken each other to court several times, including on gender reforms and Holyrood’a ability to hold an independence referendum.