Part 1 of a 2 part special reflecting on the life of "the most consequential Scottish politician of our time", Alex Salmond, who died at the weekend at the age of 69. It's a sincere attempt to capture in some depth the complexity and calibre of the man, his highs and lows.

Bernard Ponsonby knew Alex Salmond professionally and personally for 35 years. they worked and spent time together over the past few months. Alex Massie has covered Alex Salmond closely throughout his career and despite their differences, reveals that Salmond's team once courted Massie to be his speechwriter.

• Personal reflections from both Bernard Ponsonby and Alex Massie.
• The rise of Alex Salmond - from the SNP's '79 Group
• Salmond's strategic ability to see the end game and retrofit his strategy to make it happen.
• His ability to read the political temperature of the country and adapt to it.
• Salmond's rebranding of the SNP and nationalism to make an electoral success.

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