Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland and a key figure in the Scottish independence movement, has died at the age of 69.
Salmond, who led Scotland as first minister from 2007 until 2014, reportedly collapsed after delivering a speech in North Macedonia on Saturday.
He became leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) for a second time in 2004 and led the party to a landmark victory in the 2007 Holyrood elections, followed by an even larger win in 2011. His leadership culminated in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, where the pro-independence side lost by a narrow margin. After the referendum, Salmond stepped down as first minister, handing the role to his deputy, Nicola Sturgeon.
In 2018, Salmond resigned from the SNP amid sexual harassment allegations, which led to his founding of the Alba Party. He was acquitted of all charges following a high-profile trial in 2020.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar expressed shock at the news, stating: “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.” Sarwar praised Salmond as “a central figure in politics over three decades, and his contribution to the Scottish political landscape cannot be overstated.”
Salmond’s death marks the loss of one of Scotland’s most prominent political figures, whose influence extended beyond the borders of Scotland.
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