Alex Salmond might be struggling to win the argument over Scottish independence but today insisted he is winning the battle of the bulge. The Scottish First Minister revealed he has been on the 5:2 diet for months, and has lost 2st 4lbs, with another stone to go to reach his target weight. Accusing George Osborne of coming to the diet craze late, Mr Salmond said he had been advised to try the 5:2 by Mervyn King when he was the governor of the Bank of England. Alex Salmond, pictured left in April, says he has lost 2st 4lbs since embarking on the 5:2 diet to shed the pounds seen in September 2012 (right)
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Scottish First Minister says he is winning the battle of the bulge
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Accuses Chancellor George Osborne of coming to the diet fad later
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Says Mervyn King told him to try the diet involving fasting for two days
Bizarrely, Mr @placeholder decided to go on the diet after taking advice from the country's top banker.