The leader of the Liberal Democrats has criticised his predecessor for appearing on a Russian propaganda station on the eve of the invasion of Ukraine.
Sir Ed Davey said it was an “error of judgement” for Sir Vince Cable to be a guest of Alex Salmond ’s show.
Salmond, who was First Minister between 2007 and 2014, has been heavily criticised for fronting a show on Russian state-backed broadcaster RT.
He agreed to suspend the programme yesterday after Russia's invasion turned Vladimir Putin’s country into an international pariah.
At the same time as the Scottish LibDems were cranking up the pressure on Salmond and RT, Cable popped up on the show to plug his book.
He later said with “hindsight” he would not have done the interview if he had known the invasion was about to happen.
Asked about Cable’s decision, Sir Ed said: “Let’s be clear, I don’t want to be beat about the bush, I think it was an error of judgement for going on that.
“Because the interview was before the invasion Vince has asked for the interview to be retracted.”
Cable was Lib Dem leader between 2017 and 2019.
Salmond pulled the plug after he was criticised by figures across the political spectrum.
His statement read: “Slàinte Media have decided to suspend the Alex Salmond Show broadcast on RT until further notice.
"We now have the worst of all fears - a hot war in Europe.
“The efforts of every single person should be to re-establish the peace. That certainly is our focus, and therefore Slàinte Media have decided to suspend the Alex Salmond Show until that can be secured.
"There is no productive point in having the future of a television show dominate Prime Minister’s Questions as it did yesterday, when politicians should be rising to the occasion of the great issues of peace in Europe."
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