Alex Salmond: A politician who loved creating headlines

Alex Salmond loved creating headlines. He would beryllium disappointed if helium gave an interrogation that was not sufficiently absorbing to marque the news.

As a young vigor journalist, I was sent to spot him astatine a concern meal lawsuit wherever astatine that clip helium was demanding the UK articulation the azygous European currency.

When I suggested this was not new, that he’d said it galore times before, helium said: “Yes but I’m saying it much forcefully present due to the fact that the lawsuit is much urgent.”

Anything to marque his publication count.

Spending clip successful his institution could easy marque you late. He tended not to bounds interrogation duration and enjoyed further conversation, statement and showing disconnected a spot aft the microphones were off.

I tin retrieve interviewing him successful his aboriginal days arsenic archetypal curate astatine his authoritative residence, Bute House successful Edinburgh.

The interrogation was implicit and I needed to spell - but helium wanted to amusement maine a postulation of silverware that had been recovered successful a cupboard, and stock thing of its history.

While helium could beryllium charming and entertaining and ever offered a crisp investigation of the authorities of the day, determination was besides a little pleasant broadside to his character.

I would wince erstwhile sometimes helium would amusement impatience and irritation towards his staff. He could beryllium precise demanding of them.

I tin besides retrieve bringing a elder BBC exertion from the newsroom successful London to spot him, and was astonished erstwhile helium asked my workfellow if helium was connected a assemblage visit.

He had a love/hate narration with the BBC. He loved erstwhile helium was offered a prestigious spot connected a web amusement similar Question Time, particularly erstwhile his governmental vocation was successful decline.

At different times, helium would rage against output helium did not like.

He was not blessed that I interviewed, anonymously, 1 of the women who had accused him of intersexual offences successful court, aft helium had been acquitted of each charges.

It was not an effort to re-try the lawsuit but a effect to his claims of a governmental conspiracy. I americium not definite helium forgave maine for that.

I travelled with him to Europe, the United States and China. I retrieve him turning up uncharacteristically aboriginal astatine the Forbidden City successful Beijing to conscionable China’s vice-premier and uncovering himself locked out.

It would person made almighty TV footage but I don’t deliberation we got it connected camera. He thought we had captured this embarrassing infinitesimal and gave maine a backstage briefing and a mates of scoops successful the anticipation I wouldn’t usage it.

Alex Salmond lived and breathed authorities and helium seemed wholly mislaid erstwhile helium was ejected from parliament successful 2017.

I bumped into him successful Edinburgh soon aft and we shared a taxi to Waverley station. Naturally we talked authorities and erstwhile it came clip to portion helium conscionable kept the speech going.

In caller years, we talked acold less. He refused to instrumentality portion successful a podcast bid I made astir Nicola Sturgeon’s clip successful office - which would evidently person included the spectacular rift betwixt them.

That was not similar him. In each my erstwhile experience, helium seldom missed a media opportunity.

Better successful his presumption to get retired determination and marque his lawsuit alternatively than shy distant and fto others acceptable the narrative.