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Salmond: Scotland 'didn't mind' Thatcher

Salmond: Scotland 'didn't mind' Thatcher Salmond: Scotland 'didn't mind' Thatcher

Thursday, 21, Aug 2008 12:00

Scotland did not mind Margaret Thatcher's economic policies, but it resented their social effects, Alex Salmond, Scottish first minister has said.

The comments show the usually astute Scottish National party (SNP) leader moving into potentially dangerous story. The former prime minister was never popular north of the border and the SNP has come in for some political flak for moving away from its left-wing roots.

Mr Salmond admitted as much in his interview with Total Politics magazine, saying businesses has warmed to his party after he brought it "into the mainstream of Scotland".

He continued: "The SNP has a strong social conscience, which is very Scottish in itself.

"One of the reasons Scotland didn't take to Lady Thatcher was because of that.

"We didn't mind the economic side so much. But we didn't like the social side at all."

The SNP is currently gearing up for the by-election in Glenrothes after the death of its sitting Labour MP, John MacDougall.

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