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LAST UPDATE | 12 Oct 2024
ALEX SALMOND, THE former First Minister of Scotland, has died aged 69.
He served as first minister between 2007 and 2014.
Salmond took ill while today in North Macedonia to deliver a speech.
He was a prominent figure in the Scottish nationalist movement, serving as leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) on two occasions – from 1990 to 2000 and 2004 to 2014.
During his second term as leader, he used his mandate to hold a referendum on Scottish independence in 2014. He resigned as SNP leader after the vote was narrowly defeated.
Salmond served as leader of a new pro-independence party, the Alba Party, from 2021 until today.
The SNP paid tribute to its former leader this evening, describing him as “a titan of the independence movement”.
Salmond is survived by his wife, Moira, to whom he has been married since 1981.
🏴 Alex Salmond, former leader of the SNP and First Minister of Scotland, has died. His leadership brought the SNP into the mainstream and the Scottish Government. He was a titan of the independence movement. Our thoughts are with Moira and his family. pic.twitter.com/RRz1A8iGTz
— The SNP (@theSNP) October 12, 2024
Salmond led the SNP, alongside colleagues John Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon (who eventually succeeded him as first minister), into the Scottish Parliament in 1999.
Salmond posted to X, formerly Twitter, just after 2pm today. In the post about Scottish independence, he was critical of Swinney, current first minister.
Swinney, leader of the SNP, released a statement saying he was “deeply shocked and saddened” at Salmond’s “untimely death”.
I am deeply shocked and saddened at the untimely death of the former First Minister Alex Salmond and I extend my deepest condolences to Alex’s wife Moira and to his family. (1/3)
— John Swinney (@JohnSwinney) October 12, 2024
“Alex worked tirelessly and fought fearlessly for the country that he loved and for her Independence.
“He took the Scottish National Party from the fringes of Scottish politics into Government and led Scotland so close to becoming an Independent country.
“There will be much more opportunity to reflect in the coming days, but today all of our thoughts are with Alex’s family, and his many friends and right across the political spectrum.”
Sturgeon, who fell out with Salmond in recent years, this evening said she was “shocked” by the news.
“Obviously, I cannot pretend that the events of the past few years which led to the breakdown of our relationship did not happen, and it would not be right for me to try.
“However, it remains the fact that for many years Alex was an incredibly significant figure in my life.
He was my mentor, and for more than a decade we formed one of the most successful partnerships in UK politics.
“Alex modernised the SNP and led us into government for the first time, becoming Scotland’s fourth first minister and paving the way for the 2014 referendum which took Scotland to the brink of independence.
“He will be remembered for all of that. My thoughts are with Moira, his wider family and his friends.”
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer was among the first to pay tribute to Salmond.
“For more than 30 years, Alex Salmond was a monumental figure of Scottish and UK politics. He leaves behind a lasting legacy,” Starmer said.
“My thoughts are with those who knew him, his family, and his loved ones.”
For more than 30 years, Alex Salmond was a monumental figure of Scottish and UK politics. He leaves behind a lasting legacy.
— Keir Starmer (@Keir_Starmer) October 12, 2024
My thoughts are with those who knew him, his family, and his loved ones.
On behalf of the UK government I offer them our condolences today. pic.twitter.com/LV70WrXHlD
Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Salmond was “a huge figure in our politics”.
“While I disagreed with him on the constitutional question, there was no denying his skill in debate or his passion for politics. May he rest in peace.”
Alex Salmond was a huge figure in our politics. While I disagreed with him on the constitutional question, there was no denying his skill in debate or his passion for politics. May he rest in peace.
— Rishi Sunak (@RishiSunak) October 12, 2024
Anas Sarwar, leader of the Scottish Labour Party, said Salmond was “a central figure in politics for over three decades and his contribution to the Scottish political landscape can not be overstated”.
My statement on the sudden passing of former First Minister Alex Salmond. pic.twitter.com/i3bK0cgJh1
— Anas Sarwar (@AnasSarwar) October 12, 2024
“It is right that we recognise Alex’s service to our country as First Minister and to the communities he represented as both MP and MSP,” Sarwar added.
Salmond launched legal action against the Scottish Government in November 2023 over its botched investigation of harassment complaints against him.
He was seeking £3 million (about €3.6 million) in damages and loss of earnings.
Salmond was investigated by the Scottish Government after two complaints from staff were made under a new complaints procedure which included former ministers.
The investigation was deemed by a judicial review to have been “tainted with apparent bias” after the Scottish Government conceded defeat and Salmond was awarded £512,000 (around €612,000) as a result.
He was subsequently cleared of 13 charges of sexual misconduct – including attempted rape – following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Then followed a protracted Holyrood inquiry into the Scottish Government’s handling of the original two complaints.
In 2021, a parliamentary committee concluded that Sturgeon had misled parliament in her recounting of her knowledge of the complaints against Salmond.
However, an independent investigation into her conduct concluded that this did not amount to a breach of the ministerial code.
Contains reporting from PA
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Alex Salmon R.I.P.
@Phillip Smyth: Salmond
@Phillip Smyth: That was vital, nobody would have known.
@Michael Burke: why do you feel the need to correct someone’s spelling? They could be having their worst day ever and the last thing they need is you lecturing them how to spell.
@Alan: Because his name is misspelled. It’s important Alon.
@Phillip Smyth: a man has died here.
@Alex: thank you sir.
@Alex: We all know what he meant, but with typical of the journal, trolls will float here because they know it’s a cesspit of nameless trolls. Reddit is a far far better place
@Alan: thank you sir
@Phillip Smyth: good grief this needs reporting
@Alan: It was disrespectful and should not be tolerated, I am aghast at how people can even contemplate posting such comments.
@Alan: Imagine being a snowflake like you and being upset by someone correcting a name. Typical ALON with cow level IQ.
@Brendan’s mother: i have reported him
@Buster Lawless: Hasty, but your decision.
@Phillip Smyth: seriously
@Brendan’s mother: enough is enough
@Alex: name calling and saying I have a low IQ? When you resort to childish insults I think we all know who’s the snow flake here.
@Alex: You can’t even have an adult discussion about it without throwing insults. Talk about a low IQ. School yard antics don’t work with me or any other people, throw whatever you can, I’m well able for you.
@Alan: Wrong guy, I didn’t correct any spelling, defecate on someone else
May his soul rest in peace
@qffaffaf affrafrfraf: your coding me
Look please let’s get this clear when someone dies and in this case a politician,who fought for independence for his country I have the greatest respect, and in this case unfortunately I misspelled his name Honour the man and respect his name.
@Phillip Smyth: Deliberately to gain a reaction.
@Phillip Smyth: *misspelt
I actually like politicians who push for independence whose country is ruled by non nationals.
@Phillip Smyth: thats big of you, im sure its the last thing that flashed before his eyes as he passed
I didn’t agree with him on Scottish separation but I respected him, he never changed his tune, shocked, rest in peace.
@david mcentee: ridiculous comment
@david mcentee: independence
@david mcentee: He wasn’t an Islamo leftists like his predecessor. Now Scotland is a ridiculous place.
@Eoin .h: he was a separatist, that’s how I saw him. That’s it, that’s final.
@Alex: I would close down that clown show in Edinburgh.
@david mcentee: I came on here to pay my respects to to a good man who I didn’t happen to agree with, go suck on a lemon guys. You are special people.
@Eoin .h: why?
@Eoin .h: Idiot.
He did a better job than what came after, particularly Jimmy Crankie
That is a shock. RIP Alex.
Above all.A proud Scot. He beleived that they were entitled to a country of their own. RIP Alex Salmond
Hey Orla, the referendum was 55.3% no to independence with 44.7% yes. A victory margin of 10.6% for Scotland remaining in the United Kingdom. In a two way race, anything above 10% is considered a landslide. Will you correct your eronious statement the referendum was “narrowly defeated”?
@Alan Robinson: You know why? Because only 8 families own 90% of the land in Scotland and Westminster put a great pressure on them (who were by the way English nobles) to push for a no. People definitely wants independence but their masters licking English boots do not and were afraid of the consequences.
@Alex: Are you on the cans tonight?
@Alan Robinson: 10.6% is a landslide, really?
@Alan Robinson: It was a referendum, not a political party being elected in a general election. If 5% had voted differently, the result would be different. It was narrowly defeated. You know that the London government is concerned about how close the result was because they won’t permit another one.
@Alan Robinson: No that was not a landslide. One demographic those close to retirement pushed it over the line as they didn’t want to rock the boat with their pensions. Just a few months before they were predicting remain would win by at least two to one. They were also lied to as usual by the Tories and told that the best way to retain their EU membership was to vote to remain in the UK. Two years later they were pulled out against their will. The SNP have kind of gone into disarray in the last couple years for various reasons but the choice remains. Do Scottish people want Tory toffs fresh out of Eton running their country 75% of the time (who are getting more right wing all of the time) or do they want to take control of their own affairs? Time will tell.
@Alex: And yet a so-called nobel has only one vote. Unless there are millions of them your assertion is wrong. But still a good old tale to tell..
@Alan Robinson: Irish people seemingly excited about the continuation of the United Kingdom are a wonder to me
I admired his fighting resolve for scotish independence I sincerely hope scotland find their true destiny just like Ireland through huge sacrifice and injustice acquired ours by defeating the old foe. Mr. Salmond Rip
Class act. A credit to Scotland. RIP.
It is interesting that the journal asks how good our maths is on another article, yet thinks over 10% margin in favour of staying in the United Kingdom is a narrow defeat. This is the rag that fact checks misinformation and disinformation. Go figure.
@Brendan’s mother: Will freedom of expression and democracy make my account disabled? More than likely.
@Brendan’s mother: Who wants a reaction? Laughable, trying to be a victim, even replying to yourself, yawn.
@Brian D’Arcy: interesting take, lot of thought, particularly the victim stance, yawn.
A force in Scottish politics who never finished the battle with sturgeon.
The last Scottish man ,with a pair, rip lad anyone with a a clue will now your name
@Robert Halvey: The greatest Scottish man is, without doubt, Stephen Hendry.
@Brendan’s mother: wrong it is Mel Gibson in braveheart..amazing warrior
@Buster Lawless: Wrong, Conor McLeod in Highlander.
@Brendan’s mother: No it’s Scotty from Starship Enterprise
RIP to mr salmond
Shamelessly ousted
Not only did he lead on a ticket for Scottish Independence, but he also brought his independence ticket to the forefront of Scottish politics and made his party the biggest in Scotland. His promotion and policy of making Gaelic on equal par with English also reflected his sincerity and authenticity in making Scotland an independent and sovereign nation again.
Ar dheis Dé go raibh a anam dílis.
Very strange that his wife is 18 years older. Tommy Fleetwood wife is older by 23 years. R.I.P.
@rory Mcgovern: They know stuff.
RIP
RIP Alex Salmond. I hope the dream you had of an independent Scotland may one day be a dream come true…
RIP
A titan of separation. There you go, I fixed it for you! No problem.
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