Judge signals Alex Salmond should stop meddling

A SENIOR judge has taken a sideswipe at Alex Salmond for attacking an objector behind the court appeal against a controversial bypass road.

The First Minister had said that university lecturer William Walton risked becoming one of the most disliked people in the country if he delayed construction of the £400 million Aberdeen Western Peripheral Route through court action. The campaigner says he has since suffered “highly personalised” internet abuse as a result of Mr Salmond’s attacks.

The latest row between the First Minister and the judiciary prompted fresh questions over Mr Salmond’s judgment from political opponents.

Lord Osborne said he interpreted Mr Salmond’s comments as “very public advice from the First Minister” that Mr Walton should withdraw his appeal.

The judge said that, in the context of a politically controversial matter, the comments risked moving on to “very sensitive ground indeed” if one party made observations that were designed to cause another to ditch litigation.

Speaking in the appeal court in the Court of Session in Edinburgh yesterday, Lord Osborne added: “This court is here to determine issues between parties that arise on the basis of responsible legal advice.”

That applied, he stated, even though one of the parties might be the government of the country. “The court would not be attracted by attempts by one party to dissuade another from taking the opportunity of access to this court,” he said.

Mr Walton’s counsel, Stuart Gale QC, had revealed to the court that his client had become a target for “highly personalised” abuse on the internet in the wake of Mr Salmond’s comments last month. Mr Gale called for an end to the “ill-informed” campaign.

Mr Walton, 48, said: “I would endorse what my counsel said. I am very glad he raised it before the court.”

Mr Walton is chairman of the pressure group Road Sense.

Labour shadow transport minister Lewis Macdonald said: “Given Alex Salmond’s history of intemperate, personal attacks on some of the most senior and well-respected members of Scotland’s legal profession, you think he would demonstrate a little more restraint.”

Tory justice spokesman John Lamont said: “Alex Salmond had no place making ill-placed comments regarding this appeal and it shows a complete lack of judgment.”

A Scottish Government spokesman said yesterday the road is “extremely important” to the people and economy of the north east. He said: “It was approved by a public local inquiry two years ago, and the court challenge by Road Sense was rejected by Lord Tyre. We are prepared and ready to challenge the appeal in December, so that we can get on and build this much needed road for the North-east of Scotland as soon as possible.”