Former <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/scotland/" target="_blank">Scotland </a>first minister and Alba Party leader Alex Salmond has died, aged 69. The former MP and MSP, who led Scotland between 2007 and 2014 during its independence referendum and was a leader of the Scottish National Party, became ill while giving a speech in North Macedonia. Senior political figures in London and Edinburgh have paid tribute to Mr Salmond. Mr Salmond led the independence campaign, and resigned as first minister when he lost the referendum vote in 2014. UK Prime Minister <a href="https://www.thenationalnews.com/tags/keir-starmer/" target="_blank">Keir Starmer</a> led the tributes, calling him a “monumental figure of Scottish and UK politics” who “leaves behind a lasting legacy”. Conservative leader Rishi Sunak posted on X: “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.” Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said he was “a central figure in politics for over three decades”. Despite not being in power Mr Salmond has stayed in Holyrood politics. In September, he called for a ceasefire in Gaza. He said: “It is paramount that the international community unite to secure a ceasefire. We have to stop the killing now or face the danger of escalation.” He is also forever linked to the 2014 campaign for an independent Scotland, and even after it failed he stayed loyal to the ambition and formed the pro-independence Alba Party in 2021. Mr Sarwar 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 cannot be overstated.” He was born in Linlithgow in 1954 and educated at Linlithgow Academy and St Andrew's University, which is where he first joined the SNP, and graduated with a degree in economics and history, He was first elected as an MP to Westminster for the Banff and Buchan constituency in 1987. With the creation of the Scottish Parliament in 1999, he went on to serve as leader of the opposition in Holyrood, while retaining his seat at Westminster. 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. 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. In turn, that meant the SNP could hold an independence referendum. As the September 18 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 55-45 per cent vote to stay in the UK – led to his resignation on September 19. He said that, having taken the independence cause to “base camp”, it was someone else's turn to make a bid for the summit. As recently as September, Mr Salmond said he regretted his decision to step down the day after the referendum vote, describing it as a “mistake”. Mr Salmond married his partner, Moira, in 1981. He was a keen golfer and a fan of horse racing.
