Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond was a prominent figure in Scottish politics for decades. Known for his love of creating headlines and strong opinions, Salmond was both charming and demanding in his interactions with journalists and staff. As a young journalist, Glenn Campbell interviewed Salmond about his calls for the UK to join the European single currency. Although he had made similar remarks before, Salmond insisted that the urgency of the matter meant he had to be more forceful.
Campbell also recalled visiting Salmond at his official residence, Bute House, and being shown a collection of silverware that had been discovered in a cupboard. Salmond was enthusiastic about sharing the collection’s history, but he could also display impatience and irritation towards his staff. One senior BBC editor was even taken aback when Salmond accused him of being on a “colonial visit.”
Salmond had a love/hate relationship with the BBC. He enjoyed prestigious appearances on network shows like Question Time, but also occasionally raged against output he disliked. Campbell recalled interviewing one of the women who had accused Salmond of sexual offences after his acquittal, which angered Salmond as he felt it perpetuated allegations of a political conspiracy against him.
Despite his colourful personality, Salmond was deeply committed to politics. However, his ejection from parliament in 2017 left him lost and unsure of his path. Although Salmond and Campbell once shared a taxi and talked politics, in recent years Salmond has declined opportunities to speak to the media, including a podcast series about his successor, Nicola Sturgeon. Salmond believed it was always better to put oneself out there and make one’s argument heard, rather than rely on others to set the narrative
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