A little advice for Salmond

When one thinks of the great style icons of our times, former first minister Alex Salmond doesn’t quite make the cut.

A man of a certain size of a certain age, Mr Salmond’s wardrobe runs to tweed jackets, some garish golf clobber, and a few nondescript suits. Occasionally, he can be seen sporting trews but, by and large, the politician-turned-rt presenter, keeps things conservative.

So we were rather surprised to read in an interview with SNP MP Mhairi Black that, shortly after her election, Mr Salmond suggested she rethink her look. After advising Ms Black to go shopping with his then colleague Tasmina Ahmed Sheikh, Mr Salmond reassured her that she’d soon find her own style.

It is to Ms Black’s credit that she kept a cool head during this remarkable scene. It is a bold man who tells a bright young woman how she should dress (and when we say bold, we mean, of course, foolish).

We wonder if Mr Salmond would have found it necessary to similarly advise a male colleague. Even if he would, we cringe at the thought of him counselling Ms Black. When next Alex Salmond feels the need to advise a woman how to dress, we suggest he limits his remarks to “however you damned well please”.