He ran Tony Blair�s press operation with a rod of iron, remains a self-confessed �tribal Labour man� and although he is famous for playing the bagpipes is usually seen as a Hammer of the Nats.

He ran Tony Blair's press operation with a rod of iron, remains a self-confessed "tribal Labour man" and although he is famous for playing the bagpipes is usually seen as a Hammer of the Nats.

But Alistair Campbell has admitted that even with Scotland under SNP First Minister Alex Salmond devolution is working, and he praised the Year of Homecoming.

Mr Campbell, in an interview with the Scottish Government's internal website for civil servants, is proud of his Scottish connections and full of praise for Homecoming.

Asked about how minority government is working in Scotland, he replied: "I think devolution has been a success and though I cannot say it was part of the grand plan to have Alex Salmond running Scotland and Boris Johnson running London, in a way it shows devolution working.

"It was always about giving Scots a greater say over how their services were run and you'd have to say they have embraced that. Obviously as a tribal Labour man I would say things would be better with Labour, but as Alex might say, what does he know, he's not a proper Scot! I do play the pipes though, and I think it's time Alex Salmond learned to as well."

Mr Campbell's bagpiping talents will feature in a series of documentaries about Homecoming. His parents were both Scottish but he grew up in Yorkshire where his father was a vet.

He admits his brother Donald thinks he should take the pipes more seriously. "He gets very frustrated that I don't practise more. He plays every day, and I think it annoys him that he thinks I have a bit of talent but don't fulfil it."

He says of the Year of Homecoming: "I got a feel for it making the film on bagpipes and I think it is an excellent idea. It is replete with opportunities to attract people to Scotland at a time when culture is so important to business and tourism."