EGN NEWS DESK
LONDON — Alex Salmond, the previous first minister of Scotland who for many years championed Scotland’s independence from the U.Okay., has died. He was 69.
Salmond, who was a divisive determine in British politics and who because the then chief of the Scottish National Party took Scotland to the brink of independence in a 2014 referendum, died in North Macedonia after delivering a speech, in line with British media.
Tributes poured in from throughout the political spectrum, with U.Okay. Prime Minister Keir Starmer of the Labour Party calling him a “monumental determine” of each Scottish and British politics.
“He leaves behind a long-lasting legacy,” Starmer stated. “As first minister of Scotland, he cared deeply about Scotland’s heritage, historical past and tradition, in addition to the communities he represented.”
Salmond served as first minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014, and was chief of the Scottish National Party on two events, from 1990 to 2000, and from 2004 to 2014. Salmond, as then chief of the Scottish National Party, led the independence marketing campaign within the referendum in 2014, however misplaced, gaining 45% of the vote. Salmond resigned from the SNP in 2018 within the wake of sexual harassment allegations.
He subsequently fashioned a brand new party known as Alba — the Scottish Gaelic phrase for Scotland — and was acquitted of the fees.
The present SNP first minister, John Swinney, stated that he was “deeply shocked and saddened on the premature loss of life” of Salmond.
“Over a few years, Alex made an infinite contribution to political life, not simply inside Scotland, however throughout the U.Okay. and past,” he stated. “He took the Scottish National Party from the fringes of Scottish politics into authorities and led Scotland so near changing into an unbiased nation.”
Former U.Okay. Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak stated that Salmond was a “big determine in our politics.”
“While I disagreed with him on the constitutional query, there was no denying his talent in debate or his ardour for politics,” Sunak stated on X. “May he relaxation in peace.”
