Tory MP uses same excuse as Salmond.

The sheer hypocrisy  over former  MP and SNP leader Alex Salmond has been exposed with news that A number of prominent British MPs have defended receiving hefty pay checks for speaking appearances on the broadcaster RT, formerly Russia Today, which some believe is a biased propaganda outlet that exists to regurgitate Kremlin talking points.

At least 10 members of parliament have been paid up to £1,000 an hour for appearing on various RT shows, The Guardian newspaper reported Saturday (18 November).

The government's register of interests showed that a number of MPs including Welsh Conservative MP David Davies, Labour's David Lammy and outspoken Respect MP George Galloway are all well-funded for working with the controversial news outlet.

David Davies, the Tory MP for Monmouth, who was paid £750 an hour plus travel costs for four appearances between last December and September, said he had no regrets about appearing on one of the channel’s shows, Sam Delaney’s News Thing.

“The News Thing has given me a fair chance to explain my opinions on Brexit immigration and transgender issues, for which I am grateful,” Davies said. “Sadly, I have not received the same courtesy from the British Broadcasting Corporation. Instead, on several occasions, its highly paid presenters have criticised me by name without giving me a right of response.”

So it appears David Davies  excuse  is exactly the same as Salmond's in that t gave him an opportunity  to express views that may not be heared on the mainstream media.

Whether Mr Davies  believes that it is OK for him to use RT as a platform for his reactionary  opinions but  that should not apply to a progressive like Alex Salmond  is a moot  point.

Though I expect that the Unionist from both the Left and Right  real objection is giving a Scottish Nationalist  air time.

Other have taken "Moscow Gold",

According to the Guardian

 Mike Freer, now an assistant government whip, who was paid £1,000 an hour for two appearances in January and April last year, told the Jewish Chronicle: “I appeared on Sam Delaney’s News Thing, an independent production that is satirical in nature. I went on to poke fun at [Vladimir] Putin, which I did.”
However, Labour’s David Lammy, who, according to his register of members interests was paid £1,000 for two hours of his time on two occasions, is understood to have ruled out further appearances, despite being asked on an almost weekly basis.Many MPs appeared reluctant to discuss their appearances, including Labour newcomer Rosie Duffield, who was paid £500 for three hours for her appearance on the channel; Tory MP Johnny Mercer, a former soldier, who received £1,000 for three hours of his time on two separate occasions; and the former deputy speaker, Tory MP Nigel Evans, who was paid £750 an hour on two occasions.Duffield defended her appearance on Twitter. Last month she tweeted: “Worked on Sam Delaney’s show in July, paid by production company, not RT.”The biggest earner was the former Respect MP George Galloway, who, between November 2013 and February 2015, was paid more than £100,000 to front his own show on RT. It is unclear how much the former first minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, now hosting a talkshow on the channel, will earn.

I suspect many more MPs would have appeared on RT if they believed  that t had a wider audience  and  (probably more likely) paid more.

The objection over Alex Salmond show on RT has really been fuelled by Unionist not wanting a  Scottish Nationalist  to have any platform.

They are content to see Nigel Farage  seemingly having a parking place  at the BBC news HQ, Though it appears that William Rees-Mogg has seemingly replaced him as Right Wing Nut Job.

Mind you suspect the canny Mr Salmond  will not be to worried about the Unionist negative publicity as it undoubtedly increase those tuning in to his RT show.