Alex Salmond death – latest: Nicola Sturgeon pays tribute to ‘mentor’

Alex Salmond was a colourful politician who never shied away from controversy over his long and storied career in Scottish politics.

From falling out with former allies at the SNP to forming his own political party, his personality loomed large over the country’s political landscape.

Here are some of the more controversial moments in the Alba leader’s career:

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Contemporaries from across the political spectrum expressed their condolences and shock at his death, with many referencing his passion for Scotland and fight for Scottish independence.

Fittingly, Mr Salmond’s final posts on X, formerly Twitter, were about the cause that was so important to him, with “Scotland is a country not a county” being his last words posted on the social media platform.

Deputy first minister of Scotland Kate Forbes has described Alex Salmond’s impact on Scotland, the Scottish National Party and the independence movement as “monumental”.

In a post on X, she said: “It is impossible to process the news of the sudden death of Alex Salmond. The impact he had on Scotland, our party and the independence movement was monumental. Like me, many will be in shock tonight, and my thoughts are with Moira, his wider family and his closest friends.”

Former first minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon acknowledges “breakdown” in relationship with Alex Salmond, but pays tribute to “incredibly significant figure” in her life.

She said: “I am shocked and sorry to learn of Alex Salmond’s death.

“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.

“However, it remains the fact that for many years Alex was an incredibly significant figure in my life. He was my mentor, and for more than a decade we formed one of the most successful partnerships in UK politics.

“Alex modernised the SNP and led us into government for the first time, becoming Scotland’s fourth First Minister and paving the way for the 2014 referendum which took Scotland to the brink of independence.

“He will be remembered for all of that. My thoughts are with Moira, his wider family and his friends.”

Alex Salmond said he was unsure if his relationship with Nicola Sturgeon could ever be mended.

Speaking in a BBC documentary, Salmond And Sturgeon: A Troubled Union, which was broadcast last month, he said: “I don’t really do hurt feelings very much … but it’s a big regret that Nicola and I are no longer on speaking terms.”

Reflecting on her relationship with Mr Salmond and its breakdown, Ms Sturgeon said he was “for a long time, a very positive force in my life”, adding: “But I think I had to learn how to be myself.”

After Alex Salmond took the Scottish independence cause to “base camp” with the referendum, it was someone else’s turn to make a bid for the summit after the ‘Yes’ vote lost.

Borrowing from Ted Kennedy upon his resignation as SNP leader, Mr Salmond said: “For me as leader my time is nearly over but, for Scotland, the campaign continues and the dream shall never die.”

The speech marked the end of the Salmond era, with his deputy Nicola Sturgeon taking the helm as SNP leader and First Minister by November.

But those who thought he would step back from frontline politics were mistaken, with Mr Salmond announcing his intention to return to Westminster by standing in the 2015 general election.

He won the Gordon seat, and returned, alongside 55 SNP MPs, to the House of Commons, standing down as an MSP at the 2016 Scottish elections.

As the party’s foreign affairs spokesman, and with a UK-wide profile thanks to the independence referendum, Mr Salmond became one of Westminster’s biggest names.

As the 2016 EU referendum rolled around, he was often seen giving television interviews, and could even be heard on his own weekly radio phone-in show.

Many suspected Mr Salmond still had the ear of Ms Sturgeon, although despite never being short of opinions, he insisted moves towards a second independence vote were hers to make.

Even before Brexit, he seemed certain that Scotland’s fate had been fixed: “The destination is set. We’re now just arguing about the timetable,” he said in 2015.

In 2016, after the vote to leave the EU, he made no secret of his preference for a second vote sooner rather than later – pre-empting the first minister’s autumn 2018 to spring 2019 timetable.

Alex Salmond, Scotland’s first SNP first minister, has died suddenly at the age of 69, shocking the world of politics where he was a senior figure for decades.

The current Alba leader died on Saturday afternoon at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy Forum in the North Macedonia lake-resort town of Ohrid, Chris McEleny, the party’s general secretary, confirmed.

Mr Salmond served as First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014 and was leader of the SNP on two occasions, from 1990 to 2000 and from 2004 to 2014.

Former prime minister Boris Johnson said Alex Salmond was “one of the great political disruptors of the age” and “the father of modern Scottish nationalism”.

Paying tribute, Mr Johnson added: “He was charismatic, clever, caustic and fearsome in debate.

“I am glad that he never succeeded in breaking up the union but very sad that he is gone.”

The King has said he is “greatly saddened” to hear of the sudden death of Alex Salmond, Scotland’s first SNP first minister, at the age of 69.

The Alba leader died on Saturday afternoon from a suspected heart attack during a trip to North Macedonia.

King Charles said in a message issued by Buckingham Palace: “My wife and I are greatly saddened to hear of the sudden death of Alex Salmond.”

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