In the latest issue of the New Statesman, out today, Scottish first minister Alex Salmond interviews Judy Murray – of Andy Murray fame – about a whole range of things: what it was like seeing her son win Wimbledon; what traits a successful sportsperson needs; how to get Scottish kids into tennis; even Twitter. The one thing she doesn’t do is explicitly come out and endorse the “Yes” campaign.
This must be frustrating for independence supports, who have had to watch as the ranks of prominent “No” supporters swell as the referendum gets closer – from Standard Life to David Bowie. So, Salmond was probably really hoping for what you might call “a good get” in his interview.
Buy the NS for the full interview, but here’s a snippet for those who are curious:
Alex Salmond: Let’s say you were an MSP. Let’s say you were making your maiden speech as a newly elected member of the Scottish Parliament. What would you say?
Judy Murray: I think women in sport and getting kids more physically active at a young age, through primary schools and through targetting parents, would be key. I was at a launch at the US Tennis Association during the US Open; it was part of the National Childhoof Obesity Month. They had a number of people talking about how physical inactivity had killed 5.2 million people – that’s more than smoking. Eighty percent of children worldwide don’t get what is supposed to be the quote of physical activity required to make them healthy. The USTA is trying to get more kids into tennis by making it more fun, more accessible. And now they were targeting the parents, because the parents will take the kids to play, and then you get more parents involved.
Nothing about independence, nor about her son’s opinion that Scots should be wary of independence because “it might go tits up“.
But.
She agreed to be interviewed by Alex Salmond. She talks lovingly about buying a hotel, the Cromlix, in the Dunblane area with her son.
Content from our partners
Related
