AS FIRST Minister, Alex Salmond has cultivated a presidential style which exudes gravitas and statesmanlike poise. But a video which has become a cult hit on YouTube reveals that in the past the SNP leader was more willing to let his hair down.
A video diary which has been posted on the internet shows Scotland's future leader partying with Tartan Army foot soldiers in the World Cup in France in 1998.
In the film, which has never been broadcast on TV but has been watched by hundreds of pe
ople online, Salmond is pictured posing with his arms around fellow football fans on the day of Scotland's clash with Morocco in St Etienne.
But despite clearly being in a holiday mood, the grinning SNP leader deftly bodyswerved being photographed with a potentially embarrassing flag.
When approached by a standard-waving fan Salmond inquires: "That's no' a Jimmy Hill's-a-poof one, is it? I cannae be photographed with that."
Salmond then mugs for the camera after being introduced to members of the so-called Tartan Navy, who sailed from Scotland to France in a fleet of fishing boats for the sporting spectacular.
He states: "Now that I've met the Tartan Navy I feel safe because I know I've got a getaway if I need it."
Back in 1998, Salmond was attacked by Tony Blair and the then Scottish Secretary Donald Dewar after newspaper pictures showed him wearing an oversized tartan topper during World Cup celebrations in France.
Blair said: "This shows that Mr Salmond is more concerned with getting on the front page than he is with the issues of health, education and the economy."
But the SNP leader hit back, mocking Blair's support for English fans, who were criticised by the French authorities for yobbish behaviour.
"It must be a lot more difficult to enter into the spirit of things with the English fans because it isn't top hats they stick on you, it's something else," Salmond said.
The film was posted on the video uploading website by an individual called Dortmundbrian.
Salmond's antics have proved popular with viewers with one leaving the comment: "(It's] the friendliness and the brilliant nature of all the Tartan Army that separate us from all other set of fans."
• Readers can watch the video diary by logging on to
http://uk.youtube.com/watch? v>52mm5219_t0Caught in the net – political sagas that have unfolded onlineIn 2006, Jack McConnell ended up with a face redder than his rosette after footage was broadcast online showing a student chum of his son Mark quaffing vodka and wearing his bathrobe in his official residence.
Euan MacDonald, left, was forced to apologise for filming his antics at Bute House and posting them on the internet without telling the then first minister's son.
The same year, Labour MP Si'n Simon was also forced to say sorry after impersonating Tory leader David Cameron in an online skit. In the toe-curling broadcast, Simon spoke to the camera and said: "Yo. My name's Dave, yeah?
Want to sleep with my wife? That's cool."
The real Conservative leader set up a genuine site called WebCameron, where he delivered speeches from his London home.
The full article contains 543 words and appears in Scotland On Sunday newspaper.
