The SNP at Westminster had a remarkable breakthrough in 1974, but lost out after voting the Callaghan government out in 1979. It was at a low ebb when Salmond took over in 1990. His key modernising move was to ditch its anti-European stance for "independence in Europe".

Both the Scottish National Party becoming a party of government + the contours of the deadlocked post-referendum politics of the last decade (in which 45% could govern Scotland in a devolved UK, but not secure independence) are in large part the legacy of Salmond's leadership of the party & country