Lunch with Alex Salmond: Fishing for votes amid a battle for the soul of Scottish independence

Scotland’s former first minister is on the comeback trail with a proposed electoral pact for nationalists, but is he truly serious about it?

Alba party leader Alex Salmond: 'When the other side are imperialist in their attitude, you can either back off, back down, or you can up the ante.' File photograph: PA
Alba party leader Alex Salmond: 'When the other side are imperialist in their attitude, you can either back off, back down, or you can up the ante.' File photograph: PA