Pro-independence leader Alex Salmond was snapped at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy Forum in the lake-resort of Ohrid on Friday morning but was taken ill
The last photo of former First Minister of Scotland, Alex Salmond, shows him after speaking at a diplomacy panel in North Macedonia before he died aged 69.
The pro-independence political leader was snapped at the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy Forum in the lake-resort of Ohrid on Friday morning but was shortly was taken ill and sadly died. He was seen in the picture smiling alongside his Alba Party chair Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, who is wearing a tartan dress.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer led tributes to the ex-SNP leader and media personality, saying he “cared deeply about Scotland’s heritage, history and culture.” The event on Friday morning was titled ‘Young Leaders for International Cooperation, Cultural Understanding & Peace’.
Salmond is thought to have been at the event again today when he collapsed and died, suffering a suspected heart attack. The former MP and MSP led the SNP for two decades, and the country between 2007 and 2014 – a period which saw the nation split independence referendum campaign. Mr Salmond stepped down as First Minister after Scotland voted to remain in the UK, with his deputy Nicola Sturgeon succeeding him unopposed.
He twice served as a Member of Parliament in Westminster, first as the member for Banff and Buchan from 1987 to 2010, then representing Gordon from 2015 to 2017. He resigned from the SNP in 2018, and later formed the pro-independence Alba Party in 2021.
His resignation from the party followed allegations of sexual misconduct, saying he wanted to avoid internal division and would return after clearing his name. He was arrested the following year and charged with 14 offences, including attempted rape and sexual assault.
He was cleared of all charges, after being found not guilty on 12, not proven on one with the other dropped by prosecutors. He was reportedly writing a book about the trial. He is survived by his wife of more than 40 years, Moira McGlashan.
Outside of Parliamentary politics, Mr Salmond faced heavy criticism over his long-running show on RT, the Russian state-operated news channel. The Alex Salmond Show ran from 2017 to 2022, when it was suspended following the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
He started a new show on social media platforms – Scotland Speaks with Alex Salmond – which launched in 2023, with the final episode published this morning.
John Swinney, the Scottish First Minister, 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.
“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 and right across the political spectrum.”
Ms Sturgeon said she was “shocked” at Mr 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,” she said.
“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.”
Keir Starmer 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.”
Scottish Labour Leader Anas Sarwar said the news of Mr Salmond’s death would “come as a shock” to those who knew him. They said: “Alex was a central figure in politics for over three decades and his contribution to the Scottish political landscape cannot be over stated.”
Former PM Rishi Sunak said: “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.”
Humza Yousaf, Ms Sturgeon’s successor and Mr Swinney’s predecessor, said Salmond had “helped to transform the SNP into the dominant political force it is today”. He added: “Alex and I obviously had our differences in the last few years, but there’s no doubt about the enormous contribution he made to Scottish and UK politics.”
