first ministerjohn swinney _ today. first ministerjohn swinney talking - today.t ministerjohn swinney talking to me i today. first ministerjohn - swinney talking to me earlier on. my next guest geoff aberdein — a good friend of mr salmond — who worked as his chief of staff for years. this is what he posted on x: let�*s speak to geoff aberdein — alex salmond�*s former chief of staff. emotional words from you. i know you were a close friend of alex salmond and we appreciate you joining us. tell me what he was like as a person. he you joining us. tell me what he was like as a person.— was like as a person. he was a fierce intellect _ was like as a person. he was a fierce intellect and _ was like as a person. he was a fierce intellect and extremely l fierce intellect and extremely charismatic politician. he was a hard task master, there is no getting away from it, but he never asked me to do anything he wasn�*t willing to do himself. that�*s how he led the country and that�*s how people in scotland should want their first minister to be. as i said in my tribute, i wa

first ministerjohn swinney talking to me earlier on. to andy collier — a political commentator and former speechwriter to alex salmond. thank you so much for your time. many people are familiar with alex salmond as a political figure. with alex salmond as a politicalfigure. what with alex salmond as a political figure. what do you remember most about him as a person? remember most about him as a erson? remember most about him as a .erson? _ remember most about him as a erson? . , person? dare i say the lunches. i knew him _ person? dare i say the lunches. i knew him for— person? dare i say the lunches. i knew him for a _ person? dare i say the lunches. i knew him for a long _ person? dare i say the lunches. i knew him for a long time - person? dare i say the lunches. i knew him for a long time as i i knew him for a long time as you said. nearly a0 years, actually. i saw him grow from really not even being an mp to being first minister and taking scotland to the edge of independence. but he was a multifaceted character. intellectually he

we will be speaking to the current first minisler— speaking to the current first ministerjohn swinneyut alex salmond and his legacy this morning at nine _ salmond and his legacy this morning at nine o'clock. we are also talking about _ at nine o'clock. we are also talking about what — at nine o'clock. we are also talking about what is happening in the economy _ about what is happening in the economy. the country is able to pay its way, _ economy. the country is able to pay its way, that — economy. the country is able to pay its way, that is ahead of a big investment summit the government is convening _ investment summit the government is convening here in london in the coniing — convening here in london in the coming days. there have been whispers— coming days. there have been whispers about business confidence slipping _ whispers about business confidence slipping away, in the whispers about business confidence slipping away, in the first whispers about business confidence slipping away, in the first hundred days of— slipping away, in the first hundred days of this government. there

five part tweet to scottish first minister john swinney five part tweet to scottish first ministerjohn swinney in first minister john swinney in light of friday's council of nafions light of friday's council of nations and regions. and he told john swinney to be, to be and think independently, not subserviently, reminding him that scotland was a country, not a county, but indeed that kind of fire in his belly is, is, can be seen all the way right across his career. he first joined the snp in 1973 and in 87 he finally became an mp . he was, you know, became an mp. he was, you know, quite actually part of the group essentially pushed the snp to the left from the old position of the tartan tories. and of course, you know, someone who transcended from a essentially a fringe political rabble rouser all the way up to the seat of government and the scottish independence. sorry, the scottish independence referendum was another huge cap in his illustrious career. really , and illustrious career. really, and where he failed to get that over the line. but in retrospect, he came within ten points of toppli

ministerjohn swinney said he was "deeply shocked" at the news, saying salmond "worked tirelessly andountry that he loved and for her independence". and the prime minister described salmond as being a "monumental figure of scottish and uk politics". sir keir starmer has said "as first minister of scotland he cared deeply about scotland's heritage, history and culture, as well as the communities he represented over many years of service." salmond has been remembered as a powerful communicator and, after conceding defeat in the scottish independence referendum in 2014, he reflected on the positives of his parties campaign. let us not dwell on the distance we have fallen short, let us dwell on the distance we have travelled and have confidence that the movement is abroad in scotland that will take this nation forward and we shall go forward as one nation. thank you very much. we're joined now by former bbc scotland political editor brian taylor. you knew alex salmond for years, what were your first memories of him, when did you first come across him? ~ ,., ., , , him? we were both at uni