Scotland’s former First Minister Alex Salmond has died at the age of 69.
The former MP and MSP, who led the country between 2007 and 2014, took ill while in North Macedonia.
It is understood he collapsed after delivering a speech at an international conference on Saturday.
Salmond led the Yes campaign during the Scottish independence campaign, and resigned as first minister after Scottish voters backed remaining in the UK by 55% to 45% in 2014.
He had led the SNP to power when they won the Scottish Parliament election in 2007, having previously led the party between 1990 and 2000.
Salmond, Scotland first pro-indepence first minister, then led the SNP to an unprecedented majority in the election four years later – which paved the way for the referendum to be held.
He had a spectacular fallout with his successor as SNP leader and first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, over her government’s mishandling of harassment complaints against him.
Salmond was also acquitted of serious sexual offence charges at a trial in Edinburgh in 2020.
After quitting the SNP in 2018, he set up an alternative independence supporting party, called Alba, of which he was the leader.
Alba has approached the UK foreign office for help in returning Mr Salmond’s body to the UK.
Former First Minister Humza Yousaf said he and Salmond had “obviously had our differences in the last few years”, but praised the “enormous contribution he made to Scottish and UK politics”.
Yousaf also said Salmond had helped to “transform the SNP into the dominant political force it is today”.
Sir Keir Starmer described Salmond as being a “monumental figure of Scottish and UK politics”.
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.
“As first minister of Scotland he cared deeply about Scotland’s heritage, history and culture, as well as the communities he represented as MP and MSP over many years of service.
“My thoughts are with those who knew him, his family and his loved ones. On behalf of the UK government, I offer them our condolences today.”
This article was originally published at www.bbc.com
