Former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond dies aged 69 after making speech in North Macedonia

The politician reportedly collapsed after giving a speech in Macedonia earlier this morning.

A spokesman for Alba, the pro-independence party he led after leaving the SNP, confirmed his death.

Salmond led the Scottish National Party, steering them from opposition to forming a government at Holyrood in 2007.

This was followed by an unprecedented achievement in 2011, when the SNP secured a majority in the Scottish Parliament, the only time such an outcome has occurred in the 25 years since devolution.

This victory set the stage for the 2014 independence referendum.

After losing that referendum, Salmond stepped down as First Minister but briefly returned to Westminster as the MP for Gordon from 2015 to 2017.

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In 2018, he resigned from the SNP amid sexual harassment allegations and later founded the Alba Party, which he led.

In 2020, he was acquitted of all criminal charges in court.

Responding to the news, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: "The sad news of Alex Salmond’s passing today will come as a shock to all who knew him in Scotland, across the U.K 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."

He is survived by his wife Moira.