He was the fierce campaigner and master tactician who succeeded in reshaping Scottish politics beyond recognition.Loved and loathed in equal measure, but few could deny Alex Salmond's immense impact both north - and south - of the border.History will remember Mr Salmond, who has died aged 69, as the leader who took the SNP to the brink of achieving the party's dream of independence in 2014 - arguably no one has done as much as Mr Salmond to advance the nationalist cause.

He was the fierce campaigner and master tactician who succeeded in reshaping Scottish politics beyond recognition.Loved and loathed in equal measure, but few could deny Alex Salmond's immense impact both north - and south - of the border.History will remember Mr Salmond, who has died aged 69, as the leader who took the SNP to the brink of achieving the party's dream of independence in 2014 - arguably no one has done as much as Mr Salmond to advance the nationalist cause.