Something Rotten in the State of Scotland?

Eight people were killed and many others seriously injured in Glasgow last night when a police helicopter crashed onto a crowded pub. Alex Salmond, the Scottish First Minister, made a speech in which he talked of it being St Andrew’s Day, of how wonderful the Scottish people are, of how they would stand together in adversity, etc.

This is most unusual. It’s usual for national leaders to cite national icons and praise national qualities when they’re facing a foreign enemy, but not in a situation like this. Mr Salmond is the prime proponent of Scottish independence, which is a view I fully respect. I can’t help feeling, however, that his speech smells disturbingly of an attempt to make political capital out of a human tragedy. It seems to me that he’s using the event to sell Scottishness in furtherance of his cause.

I’ve always had more time for the Scottish political machine than the British one because it’s always seemed more people-focussed, but I’m led to question whether Mr Salmond’s motivation is more about seeking enhanced personal power than doing what’s best for the Scottish people. I would like to be wrong.