Former First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond dies

Former First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond has died aged 69.

Mr Salmond, who led the Scottish National Party between 1990 and 2000 and then again between 2004 and 2014, was a prominent figure in the country’s nationalist movement.

The second time around he used his mandate as first minister to hold a referendum on Scottish independence in 2014.

The “Yes Scotland” campaign was defeated and he resigned as a result.

At the time of his death, he had been the leader of the nationalist Alba Party since 2021.

Reports in Scotland suggest he collapsed after giving a speech in North Macedonia this morning.

‘A titan of the independence movement’

His former party, the SNP, said in a statement on X that Mr Salmond’s “leadership brought the SNP into the mainstream and the Scottish Government. He was a titan of the independence movement.”

Prime Minister Keir Starmer said Mr Salmond “leaves behind a lasting legacy” and was “a monumental figure of Scottish and UK politics”.

“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,” said the PM.

Salmond ‘fought fearlessly for the country that he loved’

First Minister of Scotland John Swinney said: “I am deeply shocked and saddened at the untimely death of the former First Minister Alex Salmond, and I extend my deepest condolences to Alex’s wife Moira and to his family.

“Over many years, Alex made an enormous contribution to political life – not just within Scotland, but across the UK and beyond.

“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.

“There will be much more opportunity to reflect in the coming days, but today all of our thoughts are with Alex’s family and his many friends right across the political spectrum.”

Former British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak also paid tribute, writing on X: “Alex Salmond was a huge figure in our politics. While I disagreed with him on the constitutional question, there was no denying his skill in debate or his passion for politics. May he rest in peace.”

Anas Sarwar, the leader of Scottish Labour, wrote in a statement: “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.

“Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time and on behalf of Scottish Labour I offer our sincere condolences to all who will be mourning his loss.

“Alex was a central figure in politics for over three decades and his contribution to the Scottish political landscape can not be overstated.

“It is right that we recognise Alex’s service to our country as First Minister and to the communities he represented as both MP and MSP.”

‘A towering figure’

Douglas Ross, former leader of the Scottish Conservatives, wrote on X that Mr Salmond had a “huge impact” on the whole of Scotland.

He added: “While we had opposing political views, he was a towering figure in Scottish politics which he dominated for many years.

“My thoughts are with Moira and his family and friends at this difficult time.”

This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly.

Please refresh the page for the fullest version.

You can receive breaking news alerts on a smartphone or tablet via the Sky News app. You can also follow @SkyNews on X or subscribe to our YouTube channel to keep up with the latest news.