Salmond compares MacAskill to Gandhi

ALEX Salmond was last night ridiculed for comparing Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill to revered Indian leader Mahatma Gandhi.

The First Minister claimed MacAskill's decision to free Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset Ali Mohmed al Megrahi was in the tradition of compassion linked to the spiritual guru.

But Labour leader Iain Gray blasted: "Alex Salmond seems to have gone over the edge."

And Scottish Tory chief Annabel Goldie added: "This is a ridiculous comparison - Mr Salmond is becoming delusional."

The SNP leader used his keynote speech at the Nats conference in Inverness to heap praise on MacAskill - condemned throughout the world for releasing the convicted mass murderer from Greenock jail in August.

To applause from 1,500 delegates in the Eden Court Theatre, Salmond said it was right for al Megrahi to be sent home to Libya to die.

He said: "Last week Arun Gandhi came to see me - the grandson of Mahatma Gandhi. One of the things he told me is that his grandfather's philosophy is much misunderstood.

"His resistance was not passive, but active. His dedication to non-violence a strength not a weakness. Sometimes someone has to break the cycle of retribution with an act of compassion. That is what Kenny MacAskill did and we should be proud of him."

But last night politicians slammed the comparison of Gandhi and Mac- Askill, (pictured left how he'd look as the Indian leader).

Scottish Labour boss Iain Gray said: "If Alex Salmond thinks Kenny MacAskill is like Mahatma Ghandi, what on earth does that make him?"

Shadow Justice Secretary Richard Baker added: "Alex Salmond is losing his grip on reality. I am staggered anyone would mention Kenny Mac- Askill in the same sentence as Mahatma Ghandi. The bragging that has gone on at the SNP conference about the release of the Lockerbie bomber is stomach-turning and will further damage Scotland's reputation."

Lib Dem leader Tavish Scott said: "It can't be long before Salmond compares himself to John F Kennedy - although Charlie Chaplin might be more appropriate."

Goldie added: "One was a man of massive historical importance - the other will be a footnote in history, for all the wrong reasons.

"The way the SNP continues to celebrate the release of Britain's biggest mass murderer is distasteful."

Earlier yesterday, former SNP chief Gordon Wilson was accused of "gross insensitivity" after claiming his party should use the recession to gain votes.

In a speech to conference, Mr Wilson urged party chiefs to take advantage of the "perfect storm" of public debt facing the country. But Ian Davidson, Labour MP for Glasgow South West, said: "This is grossly insensitive and uncaring. It appears to be completely disconnected from the hopes and fears of ordinary Scots."

Guest speaker Helen Mary Jones of Plaid Cymru also used her time on the platform to brand Gordon Brown a "sorry excuse for a Scotsman".

Meanwhile, Deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon will today warn that swine flu will make this winter the toughest on the NHS in recent years.

Ms Sturgeon - also Health Secretary - will urge people to get vaccinated to reduce pressure on medics.

It comes after the death of pregnant 17-year-old Denise Murray, from Hawick, Roxburghshire - the 15th Scot to die from the virus.

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