EGN NEWS DESK
Tributes have been paid to “titan” of Scottish independence, Alex Salmond, after his sudden loss of life on Saturday on the age of 69.
Salmond had been attending a convention on the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy Forum in north Macedonia on the time of his loss of life.
For many years he was the face of the Scottish independence motion, serving as first minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014. He was twice the chief of the Scottish National Party, the primary time from 1990 to 2000, and once more from 2004 to 2014. Later, he turned chief of the Alba Party from 2021 till his loss of life.
Moderator of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland, Rt Rev Dr Shaw Paterson, referred to as Salmond “some of the important figures in trendy Scotland”.
“He performed a pivotal position within the SNP’s transformation into Scotland’s party of presidency, which he led as First Minister, however his affect was not solely felt on the nationwide stage. For a few years he served the communities of his adopted North-East as each an MP and MSP,” mentioned Dr Paterson.
“We acknowledge his a few years of service to the nation he cherished and provide our honest condolences and prayers for his household, pals and colleagues at this tough time, most particularly his spouse, Moira.”
Deputy First Minister of Scotland and dedicated Christian, Kate Forbes, mentioned she was discovering it “not possible to course of” the information of his loss of life.
“The impression he had on Scotland, our party and the independence motion was monumental. Like me, many might be in shock tonight, and my ideas are with Moira, his wider household and his closest pals,” she mentioned.
Pastor and apologist David Robertson referred to as Salmond a “sensible politician and a flawed man (like all of us) whose loss of life could have important impression in Scotland and past”.
Christian commentator Adrian Hilton paid tribute to Salmond as “a conviction politician”.
“You might disagree and argue robustly, however you at all times knew precisely the place you stood with him, fairly like Margaret Thatcher and the Rev’d Dr Ian Paisley. Sadly, a dying breed,” he mentioned.
Lois McLatchie Miller, of the Alliance Defending Freedom UK, remembered Salmond as somebody who “railed towards harmful imported ideologies threatening ladies’s rights and security in Scotland”.
“I disagreed with him on a lot. But one factor’s for certain: Salmond’s Scotland would have seemed remarkably totally different to Sturgeon’s/Yousef’s,” she mentioned.
Tributes have been paid to Salmond throughout the political spectrum, with the SNP party describing him as a “titan of the independence motion”.
“His management introduced the SNP into the mainstream and the Scottish Government,” he mentioned.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer referred to as him a “monumental determine of Scottish and UK politics”, whereas former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon mentioned he had been a “mentor” to her.
Sturgeon was Salmond’s deputy first minister from 2007 to 2014, and his deputy chief of SNP from 2004 to 2014, however they fell out after he was accused of sexual misconduct. He was later cleared of the allegations.
“I’m shocked and sorry to be taught of Alex Salmond’s loss of life,” she mentioned.
“Obviously, I can’t faux that the occasions of the previous few years which led to the breakdown of our relationship didn’t occur, and it could not be proper for me to strive.
“However, it stays the truth that for a few years Alex was an extremely important determine in my life. He was my mentor, and for greater than a decade we fashioned some of the profitable partnerships in UK politics.
“Alex modernised 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 which took Scotland to the brink of independence.
“He might be remembered for all of that. My ideas are with Moira, his wider household and his pals.”
