Alex Salmond was one of the great politicians of his age. His impact, not only on Scottish politics, but those of the entire United Kingdom, cannot be overstated. And he was my friend.
He and I entered Parliament together in 1987, Alex as the SNP member for Banff and Buchan and me as the member for Boothferry in Yorkshire.
Over the course of the next 23 years we had our fair share of disagreements, and our views often differed dramatically. Nevertheless we became firm friends. He possessed a fierce intellect and I enjoyed many evenings sparring with him.
His training as an economist meant that I had a proper fight on my hands when we debated some of the issues of the age. And between us we undoubtedly drank too much whisky and too much wine in those sessions.
Indeed, he seemed to have infinite stamina and little need for sleep.
Alex Salmond and David Davis became close friends after both entered Parliament in 1987
Within just four years of him gaining election to…