Alex Salmond’s new book may not be on veteran Liberal Democrat Paddy Ashdown’s list of “must reads” – but scores of people queued up to get a signed copy of it yesterday.
The former first minister was at the Waterstones store in Aberdeen to promote The Dream Shall Never Die, his memoir of the final 100 days of last year’s independence referendum campaign.
Lib Dem grandee Lord Ashdown was also in the city as his party gathered for its conference.
And the pair quickly became embroiled in a war of words.
Lord Ashdown made a series of disparaging remarks about the diary – branding it “not very good” and an “extraordinary exercise in self-congratulation”, among other things.
But former SNP leader Mr Salmond hit back: “Is Paddy Ashdown still around?
“Nick Clegg did not know the name of the Liberal opponent in Gordon (Christine Jardine, who Mr Clegg recently referred to as Justine).
“Paddy Ashdown, I suspect, does not know the name of the constituency.
“Today I watched the eclipse in Strichen, and I will soon watch the total eclipse of the Liberal Democrats in Aberdeen.”
Meanwhile, those who queued for a copy of Mr Salmond’s book were keen to ask him how his campaign was going in Gordon.
Elaine Ward, 63, who had travelled all the way from Troon in Ayrshire, said: “I’m very excited, I’ve done work for Alex before and done some campaigning for him, his book is very good.”
Anne-Marie Park, 29, travelled from Peterhead to be near the front of the line.
She said: “I’m really excited and I hope to get a picture.
“I’ve always voted SNP and plan to do so again.”
After he arrived slightly late after being stuck in traffic Mr Salmond vowed to stay as long as possible to see everyone who turned up.
He said: “If the store has to be open until midnight, then so be it.”