Alex Salmond has renewed his spat with Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump during the first broadcast of his new radio show.
The former SNP leader and first minister said he would welcome the US businessman pulling out of one of his Scottish golf courses at Turnberry in South Ayrshire.
Mr Salmond had promised to “shoot straight from the hip” when hosting the 30-minute slot on LBC responding to calls, texts, emails and tweets from listeners.
Asked about a petition calling for Mr Trump to be banned from coming to Britain after controversial comments about Muslims, Mr Salmond said Home Secretary Theresa May should judge his case on the same criteria as anyone else.
He said: “I think it’s a very fair point for people to say, ‘well, just because somebody’s a presidential candidate, are they allowed to say things which would be unacceptable if they were being made by a hate preacher’, which I suspect is why half a million folk have signed the petition.
“She should judge Donald Trump on exactly the same criteria as she would judge anyone else.”
The Courier columnist claimed Mr Trump had overstated his investment in Scotland, adding: “It would be a better thing for Scotland if it wasn’t Trump Turnberry, I’d like it to go back to just being Turnberry golf course.”
Asked about the timing of the upcoming in/out referendum on European Union (EU) membership, Mr Salmond said it was “not right and not fair” to hold the ballot in June so close to the Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish and London mayoral elections.
He said: “You shouldn’t confuse two ballots.
“The Commons has already told the Prime Minister he can’t have it on the same day, it should also tell him you have to have at least a six-week gap before you have the EU referendum.”
Mr Salmond reiterated his view that if Scotland were to be taken out of the EU against its will, it could trigger a second independence referendum, but refused to be drawn on the timetable.
He said: “I think the pressure to have an early referendum on Scottish independence under these circumstances would be irresistible.”
Mr Salmond, who is the SNP’s foreign affairs spokesman at Westminster, also answered questions on relations with Iran and Saudi Arabia during the broadcast and fended off others about the impact of the falling price of oil on Scottish independence.
Asked what he would favour as a national anthem for England, Mr Salmond opted for Jerusalem.
He also gave his congratulations on air to Rupert Murdoch and Jerry Hall following the announcement of their engagement.
“I’m hoping, you never know, I might get a wedding invitation, who knows?”, he said.