Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond dies aged 69

Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has died aged 69. It’s understood he collapsed after taking ill.

The pro-independence political leader passed away, reportedly from a suspected heart attack in a crowded room, after giving a speech in North Macedonia.

Salmond led the Scottish Nationalist Party between 1990 and 2000, and then again between 2004 and 2014. In this time he led the country’s fight for nationalism with the ‘Yes Scotland’ campaign. 

He later split with the SNP to form the Alba Party following allegations of sexual harassment. He was cleared of 13 charges, including one of attempted rape, and later took successful legal action against his former party. 

He posted on social media just three hours before the news was broken, characteristically lauding independence as he urged the First Minister John Swinney to think ‘independently, not subserviently’.

Salmond’s final words in the message were: ‘Scotland is a country not a county.’

Sir Keir Starmer lead tributes to the political titan, calling him a ‘monumental figure of Scottish and UK politics‘ who ‘leaves behind a lasting legacy’. 

The Prime Minister said: ‘For more than 30 years, Alex Salmond was a monumental figure of Scottish and UK politics. He leaves behind a lasting legacy.

‘As First Minister of Scotland he cared deeply about Scotland’s heritage, history and culture, as well as the communities he represented as MP and MSP over many years of service.

‘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.’

Nicola Sturgeon, who was mentored as Salmond’s deputy between 2007 and 2014, said he was an ‘incredibly significant figure in my life’.

The pair’s relationship broke down irreconcilably as he faced allegations of sexual impropriety in 2018.

In an interview last month he said that he ‘seriously doubted’ he would ever talk to his successor again. 

The former first minister said: ‘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.’

Former Prime Minister Rishi Sunak added that the late politician was a ‘huge figure in our politics’.

He said: ‘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.’

And former First Minister Humza Yousaf added: ‘Alex and I obviously had our differences in the last few years, but there’s no doubt about the enormous contribution he made to Scottish & UK politics. 

‘As well as helping to transform the SNP into the dominant political force it is today. My condolences to his family and friends.’

Scottish First Minister John Swinney also shared his condolences, paying tribute to Salmond for having ‘worked tirelessly and fought fearlessly for the country that he loved’.

He said: ‘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.

‘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.’ 

The politician was a prominent figure in the country’s fight for nationalism, and lead the referendum on Scottish independence in 2014.

He resigned after the ‘Yes Scotland’ campaign was defeated, forming the Alba party in 2021.

Salmond, the first SNP politician to serve as First Minister, was elected in 2007 on a minority government before winning the only Holyrood majority in 2011. 

Over the course of his career he took the SNP from the fringes of Scottish politics in the 1980s to the most dominant party in the country. 

Paying tribute to their former leader today, the party said: ‘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.’ 

Actor and director Alan Cumming, a vocal supporter of Salmond’s independence campaign, reposted the announcement of his death by the SNP.

In a statement, leader of Scottish Labour Anas Sarwar spoke about his former political opponent, calling him ‘a towering figure’.

He said: ‘The sad news of Alex Salmond’s passing today will come as a shock to all who knew him in Scotland, across the UK and beyond.

‘Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time and on behalf of Scottish Labour I offer our sincere condolences to all who will be mourning his loss.

‘Alex was a central figure in politics for over three decades and his contribution to the Scottish political landscape can not be overstated.

‘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. A towering figure.’

Former leader of the Scottish Conservatives Douglas Ross added: ‘While we had opposing political views, he was a towering figure in Scottish politics which he dominated for many years.

‘My thoughts are with Moira and his family and friends at this difficult time.’

Former leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson added that while they ‘disagreed on almost everything… I always respected his intellect and political nous.’

They have been followed by an emotional outpouring of grief for the former SNP leader, with Perth and Kinross-shire MP saying he ‘can’t believe that Alex will no longer be with us’, while SNP MSP for Aberdeenshire East Gillian Martin added that he was ‘an ever present figure in Scottish politics who made a huge difference.’ 

Ash Regan, Edinburgh Eastern MSP and Alba leader at Holyrood, posted on X: ‘A tour de force in politics, who took us close to independence. Alex had the nation believe in itself. My thoughts to his family, friends and all those who he inspired to dream.’

Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond was born in Linlithgow on Hogmanay in 1954, the second of four children to Robert Fyfe Findlay Salmond and Mary Stewart Salmond.

His parents were civil servants, and have been described as ‘small n’ nationalists: people who were proud of Scotland, its history and traditions, but did not necessarily support independence.

As a schoolboy he stood for classroom election – campaigning to replace the school milk with ice cream.

He also realised he had a knack for public performance when he became a boy soprano.

In 2011 he told Desert Island Discs he ‘never suffered nerves as a boy’ and said: ‘If you can sing in front of thousands of people when you’re ten or 11 then being Scottish First Minister is nothing in comparison.’

After school Salmond studied a joint degree in economics and history at the University of St Andrews.

At university in 1973 he had a row with his English girlfriend who was the secretary of the St Andrews University Labour Club over the party’s commitment to Scotland.

She reportedly told him: ‘If you feel like that, go and join the bloody SNP.’

Salmond quickly did.

After graduation he followed his parents into the civil service and became an assistant economist in the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland in 1978.

In 1980, he began his seven-year career with the Royal Bank of Scotland as an assistant economist before being appointed oil economist in 1982 and royal bank economist in 1985.

While there his boss was Moira McGlashan who was from a traditionally conservative background. Although she was 17 years his senior at 43, the couple were married in 1981.

A few years after joining the SNP he played a prominent role in the breakaway ’79 Group which took a republican left-wing stance and criticised the SNP leadership.

The move earned Salmond a brief expulsion from the party in 1982, something he later put down to being a ‘brash young man’.

Despite this the rising star won the Westminster seat of Banff and Buchan in 1987.

He quickly made a name for himself after getting banned from the Commons chamber for a week after interrupting the Chancellor’s Budget speech to protest against the poll tax.

Within just three years, he became the SNP’s leader, defeating the favourite Margaret Ewing.

Throughout the 1990s Salmond’s leadership transformed the SNP into a modern, social democratic party with a Scottish nationalistic flavour.

He eventually stood down in 2000 after a series of fall-outs with other party leaders, but took charge again in 2004 with the relatively unknown Nicola Sturgeon as his deputy.

The SNP narrowly won the 2007 Holyrood election and formed a minority government.

During his years as First Minister Salmond became a powerful force throughout Scotland and a household name across the UK.

He was also pragmatic, building close relationships with leaders of big business such as Stagecoach boss Brian Souter, golf developer Donald Trump and media mogul Rupert Murdoch.

BBC political editor Nick Robinson described him as ‘the canniest political operator in these isles’.

But his political demeanor was sometimes arrogant and combative, which some analysts believe was the reason for his poor polling among female voters.

Throughout his premiership he would do little detailed policy work and was attacked by his opponents for being ‘presidential’.

However Salmond remained popular and was able to connect with the electorate through a fatherly charm and charisma on the campaign trail.

Outside of politics Salmond enjoyed horse racing, and would even offer his punditry to TV shows and newspapers occasionally.

He was also a keen golfer, telling Desert Island Discs his luxury item would be a sand wedge and endless golf balls.

His football team was the Edinburgh-based Heart of Midlothian FC, and he was a keen reader and admirer of the works of Scottish national poet Robert Burns.

Salmond was known for loving a drink – especially wine and spirits – and eating curries. He had a selection of favourite restaurants and hotels throughout Scotland and was renowned for being a fun dinner guest.

Throughout Salmond’s time as First Minister his protégé Sturgeon praised his political example.

The pair’s relationship irreversibly broke down in 2018 when he faced 13 charges including  attempted rape and a series of sexual assaults, including one with intent to rape.

He was cleared of all charges by a jury following an 11-day trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. 

The SNP later apologised for appointing an investigating officer who had ‘prior involvement’ in his case after he took successful legal action.

In March 2021 Salmond launched the Alba Party, which recruited a number of disaffected SNP politicians and activists to its ranks. 

The party has failed so far to elect a candidate to office and has remained on the fringes. 

This is a breaking news story. More to follow.