The Rise of Scotland First Minister, Alex Salmond
Alex Salmond's SNP party in Scotland secured 69 of the 129 seats in the recent elections for the Scottish parliament, exceeding an already optimistic target of 61.
Salmond is now Scotland's First Minister with a strong mandate to hold a referendum on Scottish Independence.
This is such an unforeseen and critical blow to UK parliamentarians south of the border that comparisons with Braveheart, William Wallace, are not entirely inappropriate.
Salmond is officially the defender of Scottish freedom with a beady eye on the huge reserves of oil still sitting close to Scottish shores.
As everything in politics this turn of events hinges on a complex accumulation of factors not all of which were entirely under Salmond's control, but much of it is pure Salmond PR genius.
Having resigned from the leadership of the party when he thought it was right to do so, Salmond was speedily and convincingly re-elected once it was understood how intricately the fortunes of the SNP were linked to this one man.
Since then Salmond has consistently shown a knack for making headlines, including his recent spat with Obama himself over the Lockerbie bomber affair.
The release of Libyan terrorist Megrahi ahead of time on compassionate grounds was a brave call and angered the Americans, but did no harm to Salmond's reputation.
When was the last time a British politician went toe to toe with an American president? But courage in the face of difficult moral dilemmas is only part of the story.
Salmond possesses old-fashioned qualities of vision and a passion for ideals.
He believes in a free Scotland.
He appears compassionate towards weaker members of society such as pensioners and the low-paid.
He fights for free education.
He believes in a cleaner, more sustainable energy supply.
And in the current climate of free market neuroses he is an ardent anti-Thatcherite and a voice for community just when it is fashionable to be so.
Of course ideals are easier to cultivate in a state of political opposition as part of a minor party, but now Salmond has his popular mandate to rule he must show how he intends to convert ideals into policy in the face of a globalised syndicate of industrial vested interests who will fight every inch of the way against change.
Look at the ridicule recently heaped on the coalition government's Climate Change Secretary's plans to accelerate emissions reductions.
The UK does not do visionary change.
Will Salmond be the man to challenge the status quo once and for all? It remains to be seen whether in the coming months Salmond can maximise his present unassailable position.
He is not the type to sell out (we hope) but other obstacles threaten.
He must somehow avoid criticisms of being populist, or of being a one-man band, while continuing to dodge the bullets from Westminster.
Bigger weaponry will be ranged against him now he is capable of inflicting serious wounds.
Salmond is now Scotland's First Minister with a strong mandate to hold a referendum on Scottish Independence.
This is such an unforeseen and critical blow to UK parliamentarians south of the border that comparisons with Braveheart, William Wallace, are not entirely inappropriate.
Salmond is officially the defender of Scottish freedom with a beady eye on the huge reserves of oil still sitting close to Scottish shores.
As everything in politics this turn of events hinges on a complex accumulation of factors not all of which were entirely under Salmond's control, but much of it is pure Salmond PR genius.
Having resigned from the leadership of the party when he thought it was right to do so, Salmond was speedily and convincingly re-elected once it was understood how intricately the fortunes of the SNP were linked to this one man.
Since then Salmond has consistently shown a knack for making headlines, including his recent spat with Obama himself over the Lockerbie bomber affair.
The release of Libyan terrorist Megrahi ahead of time on compassionate grounds was a brave call and angered the Americans, but did no harm to Salmond's reputation.
When was the last time a British politician went toe to toe with an American president? But courage in the face of difficult moral dilemmas is only part of the story.
Salmond possesses old-fashioned qualities of vision and a passion for ideals.
He believes in a free Scotland.
He appears compassionate towards weaker members of society such as pensioners and the low-paid.
He fights for free education.
He believes in a cleaner, more sustainable energy supply.
And in the current climate of free market neuroses he is an ardent anti-Thatcherite and a voice for community just when it is fashionable to be so.
Of course ideals are easier to cultivate in a state of political opposition as part of a minor party, but now Salmond has his popular mandate to rule he must show how he intends to convert ideals into policy in the face of a globalised syndicate of industrial vested interests who will fight every inch of the way against change.
Look at the ridicule recently heaped on the coalition government's Climate Change Secretary's plans to accelerate emissions reductions.
The UK does not do visionary change.
Will Salmond be the man to challenge the status quo once and for all? It remains to be seen whether in the coming months Salmond can maximise his present unassailable position.
He is not the type to sell out (we hope) but other obstacles threaten.
He must somehow avoid criticisms of being populist, or of being a one-man band, while continuing to dodge the bullets from Westminster.
Bigger weaponry will be ranged against him now he is capable of inflicting serious wounds.