First Minister Humza Yusuf attended the ceremony in which the Flatbread Stone was sent to London for the coronation. Photo: Russell Cheyne/Pennsylvania.
Alex Salmond branded Humza Yusuf as a "pet poodle" for letting the Stone of Destiny leave Scotland.
The former First Minister said that if he continues to run the Scottish government, the ancient artifact «will not go anywhere»" and that he would have ordered the Scottish police to block his departure.
He also criticized Mr. Yousaf's participation in the ceremony at which the Stone of Destiny left Scotland so that the king could be crowned on it, accusing him of missing a golden opportunity to gain international publicity for the separatist cause.
Mr Salmond argued that the new First Minister was to demand a ransom for the stone, allowing its removal only if the UK government recognized Scotland's right to hold a new independence referendum.
He argued that Mr Yusuf looked «like some domestic poodle marching behind» the Stone of Destiny at the departure ceremony at Edinburgh Castle last week.
«I know it's just a piece of rock, but it's our piece of rock,» Mr. Salmond told LBC. «Edward I took it to Westminster Abbey to sit on it to symbolize English dominion over Scotland.
«So it's a symbol, and symbols are important, and politicians who don't understand the importance of history and symbolism, can neither control the present nor shape the future.”
«You could put a ring of police around Edinburgh Castle, stand up on the Esplanade and politely explain to the world that Scotland should not sacrifice its symbol of sovereignty until that sovereignty is at least recognized by Westminster.»
Ancient Kings Scotland was once crowned on a stone, but it was sacked by Edward I in 1296 and taken to London, where it was used to crown English and later British monarchs.
The stone was returned to Scotland in 1996 on the condition that it be sent back to Westminster Abbey for the coronation of future monarchs.
Mr Salmond said he turned down the opportunity as Privy Councilor to vote for attending a historical event on Saturday as he was afraid of winning the «prize for a mine» due to actually receiving an invitation.
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Once considered an ardent royalist, he changed his position as leader of the Alba party, seen as an attempt to appeal to ardent nationalists. The new First Minister, a Republican, plans to attend the coronation, claiming it is his duty as the representative of all Scots.
Mr Salmond plans to attend an independence march in Glasgow. commemorating the coronation. He stated that most Scots did not like this event, and said that, in his opinion, «Charles III will be the last king of Scotland.»
Mr Yousaf has previously said that Scotland could renounce the monarchy within five years of leaving the UK, but has avoided expressing his republican views since becoming First Minister.
A recent YouGov poll found that 72% of people in Scotland do not. care about the coronation, while only a quarter said they cared about the event.
Donald Cameron, spokesman for the Scottish Constitutional Tories, suggested that Mr Salmond was seeking attention.
“Alex Salmond, who once claimed to be a proud monarchist, is playing in the extreme nationalist galleries with this ludicrous stoking of the Stone of Destiny and pettiness of King Charles and the coronation,” he said.
“ The more marginalized he becomes in Scottish politics, the more hysterical his outbursts of desperate attempts to be noticed become. The Scottish public, many of whom are looking forward to the national holiday, will ignore this nonsense.”
The representative of Mr Yousaf has been contacted for comment.
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