Mourners say farewell to Alex Salmond at memorial service

Political leaders are among those who have gathered in Edinburgh for a memorial service for former First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond, who died last month at the age of 69.

Mr Salmond collapsed at an event in North Macedonia. It later emerged he'd died from a heart attack.

Scotland's current First Minister John Swinney and former prime minister Gordon Brown joined the service at St Giles' Cathedral earlier, alongside Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.

Mr Swinney was met with boos as he arrived at the service, with at least one person in the crowd outside on the Royal Mile shouting he was a "traitor".

Kenny MacAskill, the acting leader of the Alba Party told the memorial service that Alex Salmond "restored pride" in Scotland.

MacAskill read out an email he had received from a man which described the former first minister as being "the energy to deliver the change Scotland so badly needs".

Mr MacAskill said: "That man was right. Alex Salmond made our people walk tall and he restored pride in our land, devising a strategy and moulding a movement he embarked on a journey.

"Running the first-ever independence-supporting government, which, through credibility, capability and competence, won an unprecedented and previously perceived impossible overall majority in 2011."

Mr MacAskill later said those who share Mr Salmond's dream "must conclude that journey on his behalf".

"When we leave this memorial, we do so not with our heads hung low but with our heads held high.

"A tear in an eye, but fire in our soul; cherishing his memory, revering his achievements, seeking justice for his name and pledge to deliver his dream."

Alex Salmond "dared to dream, and so should we", his former lawyer and adviser Duncan Hamilton KC said.

The media and defamation lawyer told mourners at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh the former first minister was a "pivotal figure" for the role he had played in Scotland's politics.

"Alex Salmond will forever be a pivotal figure in Scotland's story," he said.

"He changed a nation, he inspired a country and he enshrined the ultimate sovereignty of the people of Scotland to choose their own constitutional future.

"History will certainly remember him as a man of talent, charisma and substance, but also as a political leader of courage, vision and intelligence.

"He dared to dream, and so should we."

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