“A monumental figure of UK and Scottish politics” was the tribute paid by Sir Keir Starmer, the prime minister, to Alex Salmond, who died on October 12th at the age of 69. That is half-right. Mr Salmond, who was suddenly taken ill after giving a speech at a conference in North Macedonia, was instrumental in driving the Scottish National Party (SNP) from the periphery into government in Holyrood. A charismatic and committed campaigner, he helped embed a lasting enthusiasm for Scottish independence among a large minority of the population. But his failures, both personal and political, shrivelled his own reputation and reduced that of his party. He changed Scotland, but his impact on the union he wanted to dismember was smaller.