Courtesy Scotsman

ALEX Salmond is facing fresh calls to apologise to Parliament for misleading MSPs, this time over green jobs in Scotland.

• First Minister Alex Salmond accused of misleading parliament over exaggerating claims of green jobs in SCotland

• SNP leader told MSPs last month that 18,000 jobs were created, a figure disputed by Scottish Renewables which claimed only 11,000 were generated

The First Minister exaggerated the number of people employed in the renewable energy sector by 7,000 in Holyrood last month.

The SNP leader told MSPs on October 25 that there were 18,000 jobs created by industries such as windfarms, but this has been refuted by Scottish Renewables, which says only 11,000 jobs are supported.

And a Scottish Government spokesman said: “The First Minister has corrected the Parliament’s official report to make it clear there are 11,000 jobs supported by Scotland’s renewable energy sector.”

It is the second time in a week that the Scottish Government has confessed giving inaccurate answers to Parliament. Mr Salmond was forced to apologise last week for telling MSPs that college funding was increasing in Scotland – when it is actually falling. Mr Salmond claimed he had mis-read the figures in his briefing note.

Scottish Conservative Mid Scotland and Fife MSP Liz Smith said: “This was clearly a misleading answer by the First Minister, who overestimated the number of jobs created by renewables considerably.

“It’s not the first time this month Alex Salmond has given inaccurate figures to Holyrood, and this has to stop. We know the SNP is obsessed with wind energy, but over-egging the benefits in such a spectacular way is not how to win the argument.

“He must now come to parliament and explain why he misled – is he just going to blame an inaccurate briefing again, or that he gave the figure in good faith?”

The Government spokesman added that renewable energy is a “fast-growing industry” with offshore wind alone having the potential to create up to 28,000 jobs across Scotland.

She added: “That requires the kind of consistent, unwavering public support shown by this Government, its agencies and by the First Minister himself, who just this week joined French turbine-maker Areva in announcing a deal that could create 750 manufacturing jobs in the east of Scotland.”

But Labour’s Richard Baker said the latest episode shows that the First Minister “lies instinctively.”

He added: “When asked about the number of jobs in renewable energy he tells the people of Scotland 18,000 but that’s simply not true.

“He doesn’t even apologise, he just gets the Tipp-Ex out and changes the official record. When Alex Salmond is asked if he has legal advice on Europe he says yes – but that’s not true either.

“Just last week on college funding he boasted to parliament that he was giving the most exact answer ever given to any parliament – and then a couple of hours later he was dragged back to admit he had misled Parliament. Alex Salmond seems incapable of telling the truth and clearly thinks he can treat the people of Scotland for fools.”

Alex never let's the truth get in the way of any story that makes him look good

Still no mention of Doosan. I think they are trying to re-allocate the jobs internally, but...

The SNP bandwagon which has been rolling quite happily for the last five years has had its wheels looking distinctly shoogly for a couple of months before finally falling off in the last two weeks. You may think it both insolent and ironic for someone like me offering the First Minister advice, but I'm going to anyway.

Alex, you are in dire need of refreshing your front bench team who have been with you through thick and thin for the last five years. I understand that you want to remain loyal to your friends for more than 20 years, but if some of them ain't up to it, they ain't up to it and need to be put out to pasture. Your 2011 intake surely has some good 'uns among them other than Derek MacKay, you need to promote them or they'll start getting restive. They'll get more restive as time goes on and other disasters start piling up.

The big man does appear to be getting exposed recently as someone who is very comfortable with being economical with the truth.

It's clear Labour have a new policy, just go for the jugular at every opportunity. Unfortunately, I don't think the public have much appetite for this sort of opposition - hearing resign demands 3 times a day for every single issue lessens their impact.

Another issue for No politicians is that the referendum isn't a vote on the SNP becoming the one party rulers of Scotland, it's the future of government in Scotland. So if wee Eck wins, then the same politicians will be the ones wanting your vote at subsequent elections (though some with the added complications of exiled Westminster MPs looking for a job - clearly the Tories won't have this issue ). So if they are continually negative about Scotland, then this puts them in a strange position if looking for votes in an independent Scotland.

So I guess the attacks on the SNP are the best they can do, given the absence of a positive message from the NO campaign so far.