Scotland’s former leader Alex Salmond, a figurehead of the independence movement, has died at the age of 69, the Scottish National Party (SNP) he once led said Saturday.
He reportedly fell ill after delivering a speech in North Macedonia.
In a statement on its official X account, the SNP noted, “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.”
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Tributes came in from across the political spectrum. Prime Minister Keir Starmer described Salmond as a “monumental figure of Scottish and UK politics” who leaves behind a “lasting legacy.”
Conservative leader Rishi Sunak acknowledged Salmond as “a huge figure in our politics,” recognizing his debate skills and passion despite their disagreements on constitutional issues.
Current First Minister John Swinney expressed deep shock and sadness, highlighting Salmond’s tireless dedication to Scotland and its independence.
Salmond was widely regarded as one of the UK’s most charismatic politicians, transforming the SNP from a minor party into Scotland’s leading political force.
His confrontational style gained him notoriety, including a public feud with Donald Trump, who referred to him as “Mad Alex.”
His pinnacle came in the 2011 Scottish Parliament election when the SNP achieved an unprecedented outright majority, shattering the long-standing two-party dominance of Labour and the Conservatives.
This success empowered him to push for a referendum on Scottish independence, granted by then-Prime Minister David Cameron in 2014. However, the independence campaign ultimately lost 55% to 45%.
Following this defeat, Salmond stepped down as SNP leader, passing the leadership to Nicola Sturgeon.
He later returned as an MP but lost his seat in the 2017 general election.
A year later, amid allegations of $3xu@l assault, he resigned from the SNP after being charged with 14 offenses.
He was acquitted in 2020 and received £500,000 in compensation from the Scottish government for its handling of the investigation, which created significant tension between him and Sturgeon.
Salmond subsequently led the Alba Party, a new pro-independence movement, though it has not matched the electoral success of the SNP.
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