Celebrities from Scotland and the UK have paid tribute to former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, who died on Saturday aged 69.
Salmond, a leading figure in the Scottish independence movement, fell ill while in North Macedonia and collapsed after giving a speech on Saturday, according to British media reports.
The British Press Association reported that Salmond was believed to have suffered a heart attack, but said a post-mortem examination would be carried out to confirm the cause of death.
The tribute to Mr Salmond, who served as First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014 and two terms leading the Scottish National Party from 1990 to 2000 and from 2004 to 2014, was given by King Charles across political lines. It was sent.
The King said: “My wife and I are deeply saddened to hear of the sudden death of Alex Salmond.” “His dedication to Scotland was the driving force behind his decades of public service.”
UK First Minister Keir Starmer said: “For more than 30 years, Alex Salmond was a monumental figure in Scottish and British politics. He left a lasting legacy. As First Minister of Scotland, he My thoughts go out to those who knew him, and to those who knew him, as well as to the communities he represented as an MP and MSP throughout his many years of service. Our thoughts are with his family and his loved ones. On behalf of the British Government, we extend our condolences to them today.”
Mr Salmond has championed the cause of Scottish independence for decades and came close to achieving it when the issue went to referendum in September 2014, winning 45% of the vote.
After the defeat, he resigned as First Minister and SNP leader and was replaced by Nicola Sturgeon, but continued to campaign for Scottish independence under the newly founded Alba Party in 2021.
“I will never be able to thank Alex enough for his lessons, his advice, his guidance, his guidance, his love, his friendship and everything he has done for Scotland. He was like a father figure to us. All our thoughts are with the entire family and all those mourning across Scotland,” Alba party general secretary Chris McElheny said on Saturday. .
Scottish First Minister John Swinney said he was “deeply shocked and saddened by his untimely death” and expressed his condolences to Salmond’s wife Moira and family.
“Over the years, Alex has made a huge contribution to political life in Scotland, across the UK and beyond,” Mr Swinney said.
“Alex worked tirelessly and fought fearlessly for the country he loved and for its independence. He brought the Scottish National Party, which had been on the fringes of Scottish politics, into government and moved Scotland closer to becoming an independent nation.”
After losing his seat in parliament, Mr Salmond remained an important figure in Scottish and British politics, working as a commentator and hosting the Alex Salmond Show on Russian state broadcaster RT.
In 2018, he sued the country’s government over sexual misconduct accusations against him. According to the Daily Record of Scotland, Mr Salmond said the Scottish Government had not given him a proper opportunity to defend himself against complaints relating to his alleged conduct against Butehouse staff.
Salmond was ultimately cleared of all charges by a jury in a March 2020 trial.
“The sad news today that Alex Salmond has passed away will come as a shock to everyone who knew him in Scotland, across the UK and beyond. Our thoughts are with him at this difficult time. My deepest condolences to his family, friends and on behalf of Scottish Labor to everyone who mourns his passing,” Scottish Labor leader Anas Sarwar said.
“Alex has been a central figure in politics for over 30 years and his contribution to the Scottish political landscape cannot be overstated.”
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