Desert Island Discs - Rt Hon Alex Salmond

Kirsty Young's castaway is the First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond.

He has spent his political life campaigning for Scottish independence. As a schoolboy he stood in classroom elections - back then, he won on the canny ticket of half-days for all and replacing the school milk with ice-cream.

He was a child when he realised he had a knack for public performance - he was a boy soprano who seemed to have a promising career ahead of him. He says: "If you can sing in front of thousands of people when you're ten or eleven then being Scottish First Minister is nothing in comparison."

Record: Joe Hill sung by Paul Robeson Book: The complete works of Robert Burns Luxury: A Sand Wedge & endless golf balls for playing golf.

Producer: Leanne Buckle.

Published on Sunday, 16th January 2011.

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