Alex Salmond might be right this time

So will Alex Salmond be left with egg on his face in 2021 - after predicting independence within 4 years? Well, that’s the measure of the man. Real leadership is the ability to make a judgment call when the result isn’t in the bag. When there’s a foregone conclusion, very little courage is needed to steer a path. But since little is certain these days, decision makers can seem paralysed, immersing themselves in a world of meetings, consultations and policy advisers to better divine what lies ahead. Yet one thing is clear. What approaches is an English-shaped Brexit not supported by the outlook of the Scottish Parliament, the shape of our civic institutions, our voting record over decades and our clearly stated preference for remaining part of the EU. Read the rest of today's Scotsman column here. http://www.scotsman.com/news/opinion/lesley-riddoch-has-alex-salmond-got-it-right-this-time-1-4531095