FIRST MINISTER Jack McConnell yesterday blasted Perth and Kinross Council for trying to “pass the buck” over tough G8 protest decisions, writes Steve Bargeton, political editor.

Earlier this week SNP leader Alex Salmond claimed that the SNP-led council and Tayside police were being manipulated by Home Secretary Charles Clarke.

At Question Time yesterday SSP MSP Frances Curran referred to Mr Salmond’s claims that councillors had banned a march past Gleneagles Hotel under pressure from the UK Government.

“Everybody should stop passing the buck when they’ve got decisions to make,” replied the First Minister.

“Perth and Kinross Council have got a decision to make here, they should make their decision and defend it in public and stop blaming anybody else for it.”

Mr McConnell also went on to condemn both Ms Curran—who has called for demonstrators to march up the A9 past Gleneagles Hotel during the summit—and Mr Salmond as “irresponsible”.

“They (demonstrations) should be organised in a responsible way—and I know that Frances Curran is irresponsible, that’s party policy.

“But I thought it was irresponsible yesterday of Alex Salmond, one, to try to make this into an issue between London and Perth, and secondly, to urge for changes that would ensure people could demonstrate in a way that might not be appropriate locally during the G8 summit.”

Mr McConnell said everyone was responsible to ensure people could voice their opinions in a way that would “have an impact at the summit,” but equally to ensure the safety of the local community to go about their business was protected.

Later a furious Perth MSP Roseanna Cunningham said Mr McConnell’s remarks about Perth and Kinross Council were “totally unfounded.”

“Can I reassure the First Minster that Perth and Kinross Council are not making any attempt to pass the buck, they take full responsibility for issues within their remit and for the safety of locals and visitors alike,” she said.

She went on to demand Justice Minister Cathy Jamieson clarify the “complete confusion” over where protesters would be allowed to demonstrate.

“I wonder if the justice minister has seen the quotes from the Chief Constable of Tayside, in the Press today, in which he said that protesters would be free to demonstrate along the perimeter fence,” she said.

“I want her to clarify for local people at the sharp end of all of this whether this is departure from previous positions or a restatement of them.

“I am seriously concerned at the complete confusion that seems to be surrounding what will and what will not be allowable surrounding this event.”

The Scottish Tories also joined in the attack on Mr Salmond, describing his call for protesters to come to Gleneagles as “grossly irresponsible.”

“It is grossly irresponsible for Alex Salmond to be encouraging protesters to come to Perthshire in July, and his remarks show just how out of touch he is with local opinion,” said Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Murdo Fraser.

“Local representatives are deeply concerned about the likely impact on Auchterarder and the surrounding area of large numbers of protesters descending on them.

“Mr Salmond’s comments serve simply to turn up the heat on this matter. They will be most unwelcome in the area, and demonstrate the SNP leader’s lack of understanding of the issues and of the concerns of the local community.

“The SNP-run council refused permission for a march at Gleneagles, and they were right to do so.

“Alex Salmond now contradicts his own party representatives on the ground. He should have listened to them rather than run off in search of his latest headline.”

In a separate development the Scottish Greens yesterday called for a “convergence space” to be established to allow peaceful protest during the summit.