Michael Portillo: I admire Alex Salmond for what he's achieved

Published on Friday 13 May 2011 21:25

When Michael Portillo set out to follow Alex Salmond's election campaign for a BBC documentary, he had no idea the SNP leader was on the brink of a historic rout. Here he shares his thoughts on Scotland's First Minister

UNTIL a few weeks ago, I didn't know Alex Salmond well. We had been in the House of Commons together, we shared an interest in energy matters, and I remembered him disrupting Nigel Lawson's budget in 1988. Then, more recently, I'd seen him informally because he'd been very good to DebRA, a charity for people with the genetic skin condition, epidermolysis bullosa, of which I'm president, allowing us to hold a reception at Edinburgh Castle.

But I was intrigued by this figure who had succeeded against the odds; a fellow who had been suspended by his party and then became its leader; who had stepped down as leader, then come back and became First Minister. It's the story of a man who has had his ups and downs, but has somehow found the energy to bounce back.

It occurred to me the documentary I was making might be a political obituary. In the end, it turned out very differently. Alex Salmond is a politician to be feared. He is a master of the put-down and he is well-informed. I wouldn't exactly call him a good debater, but he certainly knows how to wound. He knows his opponents' vulnerability. He is charismatic - an interesting combination of charm and jibe.

When I first encountered him on the election trail, he was campaigning in Nicola Sturgeon's Glasgow Southside seat. He was canvassing in an Asian part of the city and it looked as though he had that support pretty well tied up. He is a skilful campaigner, he clearly enjoys it, he knows what to say to people, he knows how to bend down and make a fuss of a baby and knows how to appreciate lovely food that's offered to him. He was very affable in his dealings with me - he set aside more time than he had committed to. He has a sense of humour. His approach was very "hail fellow well met," with a jibe or two. He would say: "Hi, it's great to see you. Aren't you in danger of getting lynched here?"

I was aware Salmond has a reputation for being less congenial when it comes to members of his own team. I raised this with lots of people within the SNP and there was a range of responses, but the main version I got was that they work under a lot of pressure. There is some controversy about his temper and how he treats people, but overall, people were rather understanding about his occasional outbursts.

I think there's some truth in the allegation that's he's not always interested in the fine detail of policies, but it's not universal. For example, he has consistently, over 30 years, been very interested in energy policy; in the role of oil in the Scottish economy, and right now, in renewables. But principally, he is a political strategist, a man who looks for big opportunities. He likes horse-racing and his interest in gambling extends to his political life. He has taken a series of interesting gambles and most of them have paid off.His biggest roll of the dice was opting for the gradualist side of the SNP; he joined those who thought the best chance of moving towards an independent Scotland was by accepting stages along the way, including, crucially, devolution. There were others in the SNP who warned against it; who said people will be satisfied with that and we'll never get to where we want to be. But his decision on that has been vindicated, because here we are: we have devolution, and SNP majority government and the prospect of a referendum.

I think Salmond has such dominance in Scottish politics, it's difficult to avoid being smug. I was quite amused when he walked out of Prestonfield House towards the podium to make his speech. It's a walk of about 70 yards, and you could see him trying to control the look on his face. He had quite a lot to be smug about, but he does have a natural boyish smug expression.

Tony Blair, in those circumstances, would have kind of furrowed his brow, to reflect the responsibility that history had thrust on his shoulder, but Salmond looks too pleased with himself by half.

Politically, there are weaknesses. A lot of what Salmond stands for are castles in the air. He has the idea that you can run a state the size of the Scotland with vast proportions of people employed by the government, vast numbers of people housed by the government and vast number of people on welfare, but that you can also have a dynamic north European tiger economy. I don't think so. I think one day this is going to go to smash.

A lot of what he said before about basing an economy of the strength of the Bank of Scotland and RBS was preposterous. I think he's been made to look pretty foolish by what happened over Ireland and I think he made a grave mistake over Megrahi.

Given Salmond's political ascendancy, I wouldn't put it past him to persuade the Scottish people to support the referendum, but the issue is how the question will be phrased. I'm pretty sure it won't have the word "independence" in it.

I mean a man who goes to the Royal Wedding, who says he supports the monarchy, is not going to lead Scotland out of the United Kingdom.

Salmond has at least three years - that's a lot of time for him to think of a formula he could make appealing. It's also a lot of time for him to talk to the UK government; to work out something that might be mutually acceptable. I think that, by the end of Salmond's term, there will be a new relationship between Scotland and England.

Do I admire Salmond? I admire him for what he's achieved. Do I like him? I would say I like him well enough.

• Portillo on Salmond will be shown tonight on BBC1 Scotland at 9pm