Alex Salmond wins Politician of the Year

First Minister Alex Salmond has been named The Spectator’s Politician of the Year at the magazine’s recent awards.

Mr Salmond was praised for “seeing off” the leaders of his rival political parties and his “achievement in winning an overall majority in the Scottish Parliament”.

Under Mr Salmond’s leadership, the SNP gained a majority of 69 seats out of 129 in the Scottish Parliament elections in May. This is the first majority government since the reopening of the Parliament in 1999, under an electoral system that makes it almost impossible for a single party to gain a majority.

The Spectator awards were judged by a panel of senior journalists from a variety of different media organisations. Other winners included newcomer of the year Dominic Raab MP and Chris Huhne MP, who was named Survivor of the Year.

The award follows a successful period for the First Minister, in which he has also received The Herald’s Scottish Politician of the Year, and the third South Australian Climate Change award. Mr Salmond received the award from The Herald in recognition of his success in the Scottish elections.

On accepting the award, the First Minister said: “I’m privileged to lead such a strong team and I am honoured to be elected first minister and I'm delighted to receive this award.”

The South Australian Climate Change award was announced at the SNP’s recent conference in Inverness, via video from the then Premier of South Australia, Michael Rann. Salmond accepted the award as “recognition of the fact that our legislation on climate change is truly world-leading.”

Speaking of his successes, a spokesperson for the First Minister said: “It is a reflection of the strength and popularity of the First Minister and SNP government, and the progress that Scotland is making as we approach the referendum.

“The First Minister, and the people of Scotland, are clearly making the political weather across the UK and even Down Under.”