The former First Minister, who died of a suspected heart attack yesterday during lunch at a conference in Macedonia, made a name for himself by fiercely fighting for his nation.
Alex Salmond took to social media to proudly fight for Scotland just hours before his death - signing off his final post with 'Scotland is a country not a county'.
The late politician was in the process of supporting a couple in their 70s, Peter and Florence Fanning from Coatbridge, who are taking a challenge to the Court of Session over Labour's decision to restrict access to the winter fuel payment. Alex Salmond can be seen smiling cheerfully in the center of what is believed to be his last photo alongside his Alba Party chair Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, who is wearing a tartan dressScotland's First Minister and leader of the Scottish National Party Alex Salmond arrives with his wife Moira Salmond to a Scottish Parliament election count in 2011
'If John or his advisers had read Gordon Brown’s original proposal for this Council, then they would have realised that this wasn’t some ad hoc reset meeting, but part of a plan to pull any independence teeth from devolution. Mr Salmond is believed to have collapsed during lunch at a conference in Ohrid, North Macedonia. Pictured: Standing in the front row
Alex Salmond arrives with Deputy Scottish National Party Leader Nicola Sturgeon to deliver his victory speech at Prestonfield House in Edinburgh on May 6, 2011 On Friday, Mr Salmond had delivered a speech at the second edition of the Forum for Cultural Diplomacy, an event co-organized by the office of former North Macedonian President Ivanov, the International Center 'Alliance of Civilizations,' and the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy from Berlin.
The pro-independence leader headed up the party as it went from opposition in the Scottish Parliament to government in 2007, where his party battled for the right to hold a referendum on independence. Pictured: In 2020Mr Salmond led the Scottish Nationalist Party between 1990 and 2000, and then again between 2004 and 2014.
'He and I could not have been more different in terms of Scotland's position in the UK but we had a mutual respect and he knew I always regarded him as the most accomplished and significant Scottish politician of modern times.' — STV News October 12, 2024 'We had many ups and downs over the years, but I always respected his skill as a debater and as a proponent of his point of view, his energy and his campaigning pizzazz.
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. The Alba Party leader reportedly passed away after giving a speech in North Macedonia. Pictured: In September 2024 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.
'He will be remembered for all of that. My thoughts are with Moira, his wider family and his friends.' 'As well as helping to transform the SNP into the dominant political force it is today. My condolences to his family and friends.' '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.
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.' 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.
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.Former leader of the Scottish Conservatives Ruth Davidson added that while they 'disagreed on almost everything... I always respected his intellect and political nous.'
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.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.'
Scotland's First Minister Alex Salmond campaigns for a Yes vote in east Edinburgh, Scotland, 10 September 2014 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. Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond arrives with his wife Moira at the Piper Alpha disaster 20th anniversary memorial service at the Kirk of St Nicholas Uniting, in Aberdeen, 2008
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. However Mr Salmond remained popular and was able to connect with the electorate through a fatherly charm and charisma on the campaign trail.
He was also a keen golfer, telling Desert Island Discs his luxury item would be a sand wedge and endless golf balls.
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