AP Photo

Salmond has exuded confidence since becoming First Minister by, yes, being a confident man, but also because he’s carefully absented himself from tricky political debate. When issues such as gay marriage or the Lockerbie bomber brought controversy to his door, underlings would answer. This allowed him to tell a broader pro-independence story, singing to Scots a song of our shared compassion. The ­referendum campaign means Salmond must necessarily engage on complex and detailed matters, up close.