Frankly, Salmond's book would have spoken volumes

WAS lucky enough to meet both Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon on a one-to-one basis many times during the time I spent as the political editor for the Scottish Sunday Express.

- Ben Borland Scottish Express Editor

Salmond was a political titan, with a razor-sharp mind and a biting sense of humour, usually brimming with bonhomie (although there was no mistaking the fact that he would not tolerate fools — or indeed any disagreement).

Sturgeon, by contrast, I always found to be cold, petty and shrewish. She clearly resented having to make time for the Express (her boss, by contrast, was a lifelong Daily and Sunday Express reader).

Our access to these two leading SNP figures dwindled during the referendum campaign, as it became clear we were staunchly backing the No campaign and had no truck whatsoever with breaking up Britain.

Indeed, Salmond would famously ban the Express (along with several other Scottish titles) from his resignation press conference. And once Sturgeon came in, then we were officially cast out into the cold, never to be granted a single interview with her or any Nat minister during her entire time in office.

THIS bitter and vindictive approach wasn’t just reserved for us, of course. Sturgeon collected enemies like other people might collect fridge magnets or football programmes, amassing a huge array of people who simply couldn’t stand her.