Alex Salmond, the former First Minister of Scotland and a key figure in the Scottish independence movement, has died at the age of 69.
His death has shocked political circles across the UK and beyond, with reports indicating that Salmond collapsed while delivering a speech in North Macedonia.
Salmond, who served as Scotland’s First Minister from 2007 to 2014, was a driving force behind the country’s 2014 independence referendum.
Under his leadership, Scotland was granted permission from then-Prime Minister David Cameron to hold the historic vote, though his “Yes Scotland” campaign ultimately fell short, with 55.3% voting against independence.
Salmond’s political career spanned decades, during which he served two terms as leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and played a major role in transforming the SNP into a dominant political force in Scotland. After stepping down following the referendum defeat, he briefly returned to Westminster, winning the constituency of Gordon in 2015. However, he lost his seat two years later.
Following his parliamentary career, Salmond transitioned to broadcasting, hosting The Alex Salmond Show on RT before moving on to other media platforms. In 2021, he founded the pro-independence Alba Party after a public break with the SNP, though the party struggled to secure electoral success.
Salmond’s later years were marked by a highly publicised legal battle over sexual assault allegations, which he consistently denied, claiming they were politically motivated. He was acquitted of all charges in 2020.
Political leaders, including Scotland’s current First Minister Humza Yousaf, paid tribute to Salmond, acknowledging his significant impact on Scottish and UK politics. Despite past differences, Yousaf recognized Salmond’s pivotal role in shaping the SNP.
Salmond is survived by his wife, Moira. At the time of writing, the cause of his death remains unclear.
🏴 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
