Book of condolence for family of Alex Salmond opens at Scottish Parliament

A book of condolence has been started at the Scottish Parliament for the family of Alex Salmond after his sudden death at the weekend.

He died at a conference in North Macedonia and tributes have been pouring in for him from all around the world.

In his later years, Mr Salmond was locked in a legal battle with the government he formerly led, winning more than £500,000 in court after it was found an investigation into harassment complaints against him was "tainted by apparent bias".

In November 2023, Mr Salmond announced he would be taking further action, warning a "day of reckoning" for the Scottish Government was coming as he named former first minister - and political protegee - Nicola Sturgeon and ex-permanent secretary Leslie Evans in the case, accusing both of "misfeasance".

At the time the case was launched, then-first minister Humza Yousaf said the Government would defend itself "robustly".

The legal firm representing Mr Salmond is also paying tribute.

David McKie, senior partner of the firm, said: “Alex was a true giant of the political world both in Scotland and across the UK.

"He was unquestionably one of the leading politicians of his generation. He was widely respected across all political viewpoints.

"He had a unique ability to connect with the person in the street right up to heads of state and royalty. It comes as no surprise to read the many testimonials which followed his untimely death.

“Our involvement with Alex came after his tenure as First Minister and at a difficult time in his life and career."

The Scottish Government is confirming it's in talks with the Foreign Office to help repatriate Mr Salmond's body back to Scotland.

“While we helped to navigate Alex through three legal processes (judicial review, a trial and the subsequent parliamentary inquiry), the real driving force in all of those processes was Alex himself.

"He very quickly grasped the legal issues involved and fought hard to ensure that justice was done.

“Alex’s courage and strength of character over the three-year period, from the Scottish Government launching an unlawful process against him, throughout his criminal trial in which he was cleared on all charges by a jury of his peers, to his unimpeachable evidence in the Parliamentary Inquiry, was absolutely incredible."

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