North East Tory MSP Alex Johnstone dies at the age of 55
It's after a short battle with cancer.
Conservative leader Ruth Davidson has led tributes to Tory MSP Alex Johnstone, who has died at the age of 55 after a short battle with cancer.
She hailed the North East Scotland MSP, who had been in the Scottish Parliament since it was established in 1999, as having embodied politics at its best''.
Before coming to Holyrood, the grandfather-of-six had been a farmer and was appointed as convener of the Parliament's first rural development committee.
He was made Scottish Conservative chief whip in 2001 and in the last session of the Scottish Parliament he represented the Conservatives on the welfare reform committee.
Mr Johnstone had also been the Scottish Tory spokesman for infrastructure, housing and transport, a role he continued after the May 2016 Holyrood election.
Ms Davidson said: Alex's passing is an enormous loss for the Scottish Conservative party, for the Scottish Parliament and for Scottish public life generally.
He was a big man with a big heart. He embodied politics at its best: trenchant in his views, always up for a political fight, but respected and admired by all sides of the political divide for his decency and generosity.
The north-east of Scotland could not have had a greater friend over the 17 years he served as their MSP. He was utterly devoted to championing the area.''
First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: I am very sad to learn of Alex Johnstone's passing. Holyrood has lost one of its most well-known and well-liked parliamentarians, and he will be sorely missed.
Alex was, of course, one of the Scottish Parliament's original 1999 intake and he quickly established himself as a champion of the north-east.
He was never afraid to stand up robustly for the causes he believed in - but always did so with good humour and respect for his political opponents.
I would like to offer my condolences to Alex's wife Linda, his family and his friends, and hope that they find some comfort in the warm tributes being paid to him from across the political spectrum and beyond.''
Mr Johnstone, who was born in Kincardineshire and educated at Mackie Academy in Stonehaven, had been married to his wife Linda for 36 years, with the couple having two children.
Ms Davidson said: All our thoughts and prayers are now with Linda and their family.
During his short illness, Alex was greatly touched by the many messages of goodwill he received from across the parliament.
On behalf of the party, may I thank everybody who got in touch with Alex to pass on their thoughts. It meant a great deal to him.''