Tributes have been paid to Scottish independence 'titan' Alex Salmond following his sudden demise aged 69 on Saturday.
Salmond was attending a convention on the Institute of Cultural Diplomacy Discussion board in North Macedonia on the time of his demise.
He was the face of the Scottish independence motion for many years, serving as First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014. He twice led the Scottish Nationwide Celebration, first from 1990 to 2000 and once more from 2004 to 2014. Later, he grew to become chief of the Alba Celebration from 2021 till his demise.
The moderator of the Church of Scotland's Basic Meeting, the Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson, known as Salmond “probably the most important figures in trendy Scotland”.
“He performed a key position within the transformation of the SNP into the Scottish authorities celebration he led as First Minister, however his affect was not solely felt on the nationwide stage. He served the communities of his adopted North East for a few years as each an MP and an MSP,” Dr Paterson mentioned.
“We admire his a few years of service to the nation he beloved and lengthen our honest condolences and prayers to his household, mates and colleagues at this troublesome time, particularly his spouse Moira.”
Scotland's deputy first minister and dedicated Christian Kate Forbes mentioned it was “unattainable to course of” the information of his demise.
“The impression he has had on Scotland, our celebration and the independence motion has been monumental. Like me, many might be in shock tonight and my ideas are with Moira, his prolonged household and closest mates,” she mentioned.
Pastor and apologist David Robertson known as Salmond “an ideal politician and a fallible man (like all of us) whose demise could have a big impression in Scotland and past”.
Christian commentator Adrian Hilton paid tribute to Salmond as a “politician of conviction”.
“You possibly can disagree and argue onerous however you all the time knew precisely the place you stood with him, very similar to Margaret Thatcher and the Rev Dr Ian Paisley. Sadly a dying breed,” he mentioned.
Lois McLatchie Miller of the Alliance Defending Freedom UK remembered Salmond as somebody who “spoke out in opposition to harmful imported ideologies threatening the rights and security of girls in Scotland”.
“I disagreed with him on lots. However one factor is for certain: Salmond's Scotland would look remarkably totally different to Sturgeon/Yousef's,” she mentioned.
Tributes have been paid to Salmond throughout the political spectrum, with the SNP calling him a “titan of the independence motion”.
“His management introduced the SNP into the mainstream and the Scottish Authorities,” he mentioned.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer known as him a “monumental determine in Scottish and British politics”, whereas former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon mentioned he was her “mentor”.
Sturgeon was Salmond's deputy first minister from 2007 to 2014 and his deputy chief of the SNP from 2004 to 2014, however they divorced after he was accused of sexual misconduct. He was later cleared of the costs.
“I’m shocked and sorry to be taught of Alex Salmond's demise,” she mentioned.
“In fact I can't fake that the occasions of the previous couple of years that led to the breakdown of our relationship didn't occur, and it wouldn't be proper for me to attempt.
“Nevertheless, the actual fact stays that over a few years Alex was an extremely essential determine in my life. He was my mentor and for greater than a decade we shaped probably the most profitable partnerships in British politics.
“Alex modernized the SNP and led us into authorities for the primary time, changing into Scotland's fourth First Minister and paving the best way for the 2014 referendum that introduced Scotland to the brink of independence.
“He might be remembered for all of that. My ideas are with Moira, his prolonged household and his mates.”
