The man determined to shatter the UK: He is a gambler and former Maoist rabble-rouser who favoured direct action. Whatever else Salmond might lack, it is not self-belief . Daily Mail

Today Alex Salmond could preside over greatest upheaval in 300 years

It is climax of long journey for boy raised on Linlithgow council estate

He was key member of far-left faction of SNP and was kicked out of party

But slow rise has continued since 1987 when he was elected as an MP

Employees describe him as quick to anger, a bully - and a gifted orator

Few people noticed the attractive, middle-aged woman nervously watching the First Minister from the spin room on the night of his second debate with Alistair Darling.

Elegant and discreet, with a bright smile and an easy manner, Claire Howell has got closer to Alex Salmond in these last few months than most do in a lifetime.

She is his longstanding ‘happiness coach’, an enthusiastic ray of sunshine brought on board by the SNP to re-brand Team Salmond as friendly, approachable and electable.

In the run-up to the debate she had often been by his side, sitting in on high strategy Yes meetings and attending a Business for Scotland dinner at the Glasgow Marriott where Mr Salmond was the guest of honour.

But on that August night, under the hot lights of Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum, Mr Salmond went off script.

Gone were the conciliatory gestures, the smiles and the softer language. Instead, Salmond the bruiser was back – his grin crumpling into a grimace, his hand a resolute fist, his manner loud and hectoring.

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how to make a paper airplane that flies far and straight step by step

Alex Salmond's Build's his own airforce

Triple blow for Salmond – on finance, the EU and the NHS, Daily Express

ALEX Salmond was last night accused of trying to hoodwink Scots as his campaign to break up Britain suffered a series of damaging blows.

Critics said the SNP leader’s case for separation had stalled with just hours left until votes are cast in tomorrow’s referendum.

It came after a damning report warned an independent Scotland would collapse within a year if it kept the pound and walked away from its share of  the UK’s national debt.

Respected think-tank the National Institute of Economic and Social Research (NIESR) said that reneging would freeze the country out of the EU and international markets, triggering “unprecedented austerity”. Meanwhile, the Spanish government directly contradicted Mr Salmond’s claims by warning a breakaway country would be forced to wait at least five years to join the EU and then sign up to the euro.

And in a further blow to the First Minister a leaked report revealed hospitals faced a funding black hole of up to £450million in a separate nation despite his claims only a Yes vote can save the NHS.

Scottish Lib Dem leader Willie Rennie MSP said: “Today the SNP’s three main arguments on the NHS, EU and sterlingisation fell from under them.

“With only hours until the crucial vote, Alex Salmond has been caught out trying to hoodwink the people of Scotland.”

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Independence referendum: Nationalism's aim was to divide us from England but it's split us from ourselves

IT seems like we now live in two Scotlands. No matter what the outcome in tomorrow’s sleepless dawn, we will be in a divided country.