Alex Salmond takes balloon ride on campaign trail

ALEX Salmond has taken to the skies in a hot air balloon while on the campaign trail.

Tasmina Ahmed Sheikh was joined by Alex Salmond on the campaign trail in Milnathort. Picture: Getty

The former First Minister and leader of the SNP was campaigning with the Nationalists’ Perthshire South and Ochil candidate Tasmina Ahmed Sheikh, in Milnathort.

Mr Salmond is a candidate for the SNP in the Gordon constituency but took time out from his own campaign to give backing to Ms Sheikh, described as one of the SNP’s up and coming politicians.

Previously a member of both the Labour and Conservative parties, Ms Sheikh - a solicitor and actress - founded the Scottish Asian Women’s Association and once got Mr Salmond to appear as a ghost in a Pakistani TV soap.

Born in Chelsea, her father was the first Asian councillor in the UK for the Conservatives, being elected in Edinburgh’s New Town / Stockbridge ward in 1986.