 Alex Salmond is leading the SNP for the second time |
Alex Salmond is well known for his love of the horses but the form book goes out the window when trying to predict his career progression. He was one of the most surprising winners at the 2001 general election.
It was not that the seat he had held since 1987 was in particular danger of falling to another party.
Rather it was because the Banff and Buchan MP said he would ultimately seek a return to Holyrood.
To say his resignation as Scottish National Party leader in 2000 was a surprise would be an understatement.
He decided at that time to continue in politics at Westminster as the Nationalist MPs' group leader as John Swinney led the party and took on Labour at Holyrood.
Mr Salmond led the party for 10 years during his first leadership stint and in that time repositioned it significantly, positioning the left-wing party as more social democratic and pro-European.
 |  You may have noticed that Labour, the Tories and the Liberals in this campaign are talking about everything except Scotland |
He also built up a strong personal profile in Westminster, which may have been instrumental in his decision to stay.
However, he has now decided to return to Holyrood and has also returned to lead the party after a spell in which the SNP has failed to dent Labour's dominance.
Viewed as a tough, intelligent and hard-working politician, Mr Salmond said it was "good to be back" when he recorded a landslide leadership victory last September - after John Swinney stepped down.
He vowed both he and deputy leader Nicola Sturgeon would make political progress at the General Election.
'Heart and soul'
"We intend to lead with the head and the heart and touch the soul of Scotland," he said.
Mr Salmond dismissed suggestions that leading the party while having a seat at Westminster rather than Holyrood would place him in an odd position.
Mr Salmond said the SNP is the only party willing to tackle Scotland's problems at the forthcoming General Election, while the other parties will focus on English issues.
"You may have noticed that Labour, the Tories and the Liberals in this campaign are talking about everything except Scotland," he said.
"They are totally focused on an English agenda. Most of their policies, 90% of them, are not even relevant to Scotland."
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