Alex Salmond death – latest: Nicola Sturgeon pays tribute to ‘mentor’ ex-Scottish first minister
Sir Keir Starmer also praises Alba leader as ‘monumental figure of Scottish and UK politics’
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Tributes have poured in for the longtime Scottish first minister Alex Salmond after his sudden death aged 69 shocked the world of politics in which he was a senior figure for decades.
The current Alba leader passed away on Saturday afternoon at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy Forum in the North Macedonia lake-resort town of Ohrid, the party’s general secretary Chris McEleny confirmed.
He had made a speech at the event, and the party said it understood he suffered a heart attack at lunch in a crowded room, although there will be a post-mortem examination to confirm the cause of death.
Mr Salmond served as first minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014 and was leader of the Scottish National Party on two occasions, from 1990 to 2000 and from 2004 to 2014, with contemporaries from across the political spectrum expressing their condolences.
British prime minister Sir Keir Starmer led the tributes, describing Mr Salmond as a “monumental figure of Scottish and UK politics” for more than 30 years.
Former first minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon paid tribute to her “mentor”, while Scotland’s current first minister John Swinney said Mr Salmond “fought fearlessly” for Scottish independence.
Alba Party deputy leader Kenny MacAskill said the party “grieves the loss of their founder and leader”.
Leader of the Conservative Party Rishi Sunak praised Mr Salmond as a “huge figure in our politics”.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar remembered Mr Salmond as “a central figure in politics for over three decades”.
Salmond understood to have died at lunch in crowded room after suffering heart attack
Alex Salmond is understood to have died at lunch in a crowded room after suffering a heart attack.
The current Alba leader died on Saturday afternoon at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy Forum in the North Macedonia lake-resort town of Ohrid, Chris McEleny, the party’s general secretary, confirmed.
Mr Salmond had made a speech at the event, and the party said it understood he suffered a heart attack, although there will be a post-mortem examination to confirm the cause of death.
King says he and Queen are ‘greatly saddened to hear of sudden death of Alex Salmond'
The King has said he and the Queen are “greatly saddened to hear of the sudden death of Alex Salmond”.
In a message issued by Buckingham Palace, Charles also said: “His devotion to Scotland drove his decades of public service.
“We extend our deep condolences to his family and loved ones at this time.”
Salmond described decision to step down as SNP leader after referendum vote as ‘mistake’
As recently as September of this year, Alex Salmond said he regretted his decision to step down as leader of the Scottish National Party the day after the referendum vote, describing it as a “mistake”.
Speaking in a documentary by ITV Border about the 10th anniversary of the independence referendum – named A Decade of Debate – Mr Salmond said he would not have handed the reins to Nicola Sturgeon at the time had he known how the next 10 years would play out.
In the decade since the vote, support for independence has remained fairly static, leaving Mr Salmond frustrated by what he saw as a lack of action on the part of the SNP-run Scottish Government to secure another vote.
Away from the constitution, Alex Salmond’s time as first minister was eventful
Away from the constitution, Alex Salmond’s time as first minister was eventful.
His handling of planning for Donald Trump’s Scottish golf course; his dealings with newspaper boss Rupert Murdoch; the details of his expenses; a row over EU legal advice; and Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill’s decision to free Lockerbie bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi on compassionate grounds were among the controversial moments.
Elsewhere, popular policies such as free university tuition, free prescriptions, a freeze on council tax, and Mr Salmond’s seemingly innate talent for outmanoeuvring his political opponents helped to assure electoral success.
Outside politics, Mr Salmond married his partner, Moira, in 1981. He was a keen golfer and a fan of horse racing.
The rise of Alex Salmond who succeeded in reshaping Scottish politics beyond recognition
He was the fierce campaigner and master tactician who succeeded in reshaping Scottish politics beyond recognition.
Loved and loathed in equal measure, but few could deny Alex Salmond’s immense impact both north – and south – of the border.
History will remember Mr Salmond, who has died aged 69, as the leader who took the SNP to the brink of achieving the party’s dream of independence in 2014 – arguably no one has done as much as Mr Salmond to advance the nationalist cause.
Born in Linlithgow in 1954, Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond was educated at Linlithgow Academy and St Andrew’s University, where he first joined the SNP.
Graduating with a degree in economics and history, he worked as an economist for both the Government Economic Service and the Royal Bank of Scotland before being elected as an MP for the Banff and Buchan constituency in 1987.
His election at Westminster followed a turbulent period for the SNP, which saw its number of seats fall from 11 to two in the 1979 general election.
He characterised his early time at Westminster as “a one-man campaign of parliamentary disruption” – best illustrated when he was ejected from the chamber during the 1988 budget.
As a young and brash newcomer, Mr Salmond played a role in the breakaway faction of the party known as the “79 Group” which sought to take a more left-wing stance.
His brief expulsion as a result did not hinder his advancement within the party in the long term, with his election to leader coming in 1990.
With the creation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, he went on to serve as leader of the opposition at Holyrood, while retaining his seat at Westminster.
He stood down as SNP leader in 2000 and left the Scottish Parliament in 2001.
Returning as leader in 2004, he guided his party to a narrow Scottish election win in 2007 and then led a minority government as he became Scotland’s first SNP First Minister – a feat many thought was unachievable.
Salmond ‘made a huge difference’, says SNP MSP Martin
SNP MSP for Aberdeenshire East Gillian Martin said Mr Salmond was “an ever-present figure in Scottish politics who made a huge difference”.
In a post on social media, Ms Martin added: “I was fortunate to spend time with him as a candidate taking on his former seat of Aberdeenshire East.
“An ever-present figure in Scottish politics who made a huge difference.”
SNP group leader at Westminster praises Salmond for shaping SNP and Scotland
SNP group leader at Westminster Stephen Flynn has praised Alex Salmond for shaping “not just the modern story of the SNP, but of Scotland as a whole”.
The MP said: “Alex Salmond shaped not just the modern story of the SNP, but of Scotland as a whole.
“For many of us who joined the path to independence, we did so on a route that he had carved. I am immeasurably sad that Alex has not lived to see us reach the end of that journey.”
Jeremy Corbyn praised Salmond as ‘formidable, determined and principled to his core'
Jeremy Corbyn has praised Alex Salmond as “formidable, determined and principled to his core”.
In a post on X, the former Labour Party leader said: “Very sad to hear of Alex Salmond’s passing.
“He was formidable, determined and principled to his core.
“We will miss his tenacity and humour most. My thoughts are with his family and friends in Scotland and around the world.”
In pictures: Alex Salmond’s decades at forefront of Scottish and UK politics
Salmond delivered Scottish independence referendum but ultimately lost
Returning as leader of the Scottish National Party in 2004, Alex Salmond guided his party to a narrow Scottish election win in 2007 and then led a minority government as he became Scotland’s first SNP First Minister – a feat many thought was unachievable.
That success was superseded in the 2011 election, when Mr Salmond led his party to an unprecedented victory, with a crushing defeat of its main rival and pre-election poll leaders, Labour.
The majority win was even more impressive considering the voting system at Holyrood is essentially designed to prevent such a result.
It meant the SNP’s manifesto pledge to hold an independence referendum could be delivered.
Mr Salmond signed the Edinburgh Agreement with David Cameron on 15 October 2012, setting out the terms of the referendum to held in 2014.
Despite attempts by some in the Yes camp to move the focus away from him, Mr Salmond was seen across the UK – and the wider world – as synonymous with the Scottish independence movement during the campaign.
As the 18 September vote drew closer, the polls narrowed, and Yes Scotland appeared to have the momentum. Many wondered whether the first minister could become the ultimate Scottish political history-maker.
But the result – a 55 per cent to 45 per cent vote to stay in the UK – led to his resignation on 19 September.
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