ALEX SALMOND and David Cameron looked like men who had both just won the vote on Scottish independence.

There was our First Minister, in of all places Wimbledon's Royal Box, shamelessly yet opportunely producing from his wife's handbag a huge Saltire.

Little wonder he was grinning like a Nat who had just received an own goal gift from the Labour Party in Falkirk.

In the front row the UK PM could have been celebrating his Abu Qatada benefit savings, while no doubt cursing No10's hired help for not thinking to pack his Union Jack.

The object of their shared delight is, like them, well versed in polarising UK opinion.

Surely now Andy Murray will be universally acclaimed as the first male Brit in 77 years to win Wimbledon?

Since his Centre Court debut at 18 in 2005, and a heartbreaking five-set collapse to Argentina's David Nalbandian, he has been lambasted for everything from his wayward hairstyle, a Victor Meldrew demeanour, supposedly suspect mental toughness, his very Scottishness - and even his mum.

He was not instantly accepted because Andy Murray is not Tim Henman.

The scruffy, scowling Scot was alien to what the English had come to expect in their gentlemen players.

For 77 years they had been treated to neat, proper, respectful, stiff upper lips - and total failure.

Here was a temperamental perfectionist; a tennis genius who refused to kiss the badge or display the fake emotion so loved by football's so-called stars.

Andy's tennis does his talking, and anyone who listened on Sunday will like me still have a smile on their face.

As a non-smoker and non-drinker who hates partying, he hardly fits your typical Scots identikit, and like many of us has unfairly been tarred as anti-English.

He can blame a throwaway line before the 2006 World Cup, when his pal Tim Henman teased him about who he'd support.

His light-hearted response, "Anyone but England", provoked a furious backlash still lingering today among internet trolls, despite his grandmother, his girlfriend and most of his backroom team being English.

I doubt it will keep him awake at home in leafy Surrey, and I'd expect the same reaction to critics of his "pushy mum".

The remarkable Judy too, has suffered comparison with the Henmans.

Tim's parents, Jane and Anthony, regularly supported their boy, a quiet and reserved couple, applauding politely at the appropriate moments.

In contrast, Judy's clenched-fisted very vocal support upset traditionalists, but she inspired Andy and big brother Jamie to Wimbledon titles.

If being pushy delivers such astounding success then Britain needs many more mums like Judy Murray, and not just in sport.

Since 2005 Andy has become an altogether different animal, mentally and physically, although I fear watching him will never be entirely pain-free.

Last month's BBC documentary, The Man Behind The Racquet, revealed a rare glimpse of his personal life and he came across as a likeable, normal, funny guy.

His tears at Wimbledon last year after defeat to Roger Federer showed he was human and undoubtedly enhanced his public image.

There were no tears on Sunday as a now adoring Centre Court watched the first male Brit to conquer SW19 since Fred Perry in 1936, and his impact on our sports-mad nation should not be underestimated.

At 26, Andy is world No2 and Wimbledon, Olympic and US Open champion in an era that includes three of tennis's greatest players. A truly colossal feat.

Twice now in brutal Grand Slam finals his huge courage and heart has overcome Novak Djokovic, by common consent one of the game's greatest-ever fighters.

The Queen has already been in touch and Andy must be a shoe-in for Sir Andy, with his own statue at Wimbledon.

They can site it on what was formerly known as Henman Hill.

BBC Sports Personality of the Year? That could be stretching it. One of the chaps may yet win the Ashes.

But if a Dunblane lad can raise morale among austerity-hit Brits, then who's to say even Messrs Salmond and Cameron can't work miracles of their own.

MICHELLE McMANUS, who amply and delightfully fills this Evening Times space every Thursday, was out in sympathy last week for victims of the cleavage cops.

Holly Willoughby is the latest female TV presenter under fire, apparently alarming viewers with her "eye-popping" bosom in The Voice.

Michelle, a self-confessed larger-busted lady, suffered her own share of detractors while hosting STV's The Hour, but says most complaints came from women. What a surprise.

She also sang for the Pope during his 2010 visit to Scotland, and admits her dress left nothing to the old boy's imagination, although I don't think it played any part in his abdication, Michelle.

Jackie Bird got pelters for a memorably revealing dress on a Hogmanay show. She gave us a song that night, but in that dress not everything stopped when the music stopped. Happy days.