Letter: Alex Salmond has ego to be proud of

A CHALLENGE for Alexander McKay (Debate, 6 May): name any UK political leader more popular and successful than Alex Salmond. He talks of Salmond’s “ego” as if he should be ashamed of it. My dictionary defines it as “personal pride”.

Years ago, Billy Connolly, interviewed by teenagers on a TV programme, declared, “I know I’m good!” Given his success in different areas of entertainment, that would seem to be self-evident and irrespective of any personal opinion of his actual material. It was certainly a declaration of ego.

So it is with Salmond, who virtually single-handedly changed the face of Scottish politics, and I would point out here that I am not an SNP supporter. As to courting powerful and influential people, he would be failing in his duty on our behalf if he failed to do so. All parties do this, and whether or not it results in party support, I accept Salmond’s claim that he was also aiming to promote Scotland and attract jobs for us. He has also shown himself to be equally comfortable with ordinary citizens.

I wonder if there is significance in Mr McKay’s associating Thatcher with Salmond in terms of overweening ego, but not Blair? Of course, he got out before he could be exposed.

Robert Dow, Tranent