Always in demand

I suppose I have been having dinner with Alex Salmond on and off for more than 30 years in various roles - as fellow office bearers in the SNP , as Leader & Chief Executive of the party, as opposition MSPs in a new Parliament , in Government with him as First Minister and as friends.

In almost all of that time , of course, he has been a hugely recognisable , and usually greatly admired , public figure.

Tonight , as ever, lots of people in the restaurant in Edinburgh wanted to say hullo and shake his hand - like Carol &
Stewart in the picture.

Of course he wanted to have a chat too , confirming he is and has always been the most approachable and gregarious of politicians.