The feud between Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her predecessor Alex Salmond has seen them likened to the warring families in Shakespeare’s Romeo And Juliet.

Former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell spoke about the “rather squalid” exchanges between the current SNP leader and Mr Salmond – who has now set up his own rival political party.

Sir Menzies said: “This business, it is a bit like Romeo And Juliet, if you remember the Montagues and the Capulets. Well we’ve got the Salmondettes and the Sturgeonistas.”

Mr Salmond has previously accused senior figures within the SNP of being involved in a conspiracy against him – a claim strongly rejected by Ms Sturgeon.

She in turn has insisted she will not work with Mr Salmond’s new Alba Party, if the former SNP leader does return to Holyrood after the May 6 election.

Speaking in Edinburgh before campaigning was suspended on Friday, Sir Menzies said the feud shows “our politics is in a bad shape”.

He said: “The exchanges now between the First Minister and Mr Salmond seem to be rather squalid really.

“I think it has been a very, very unpleasant episode altogether and continues to be so.”