Alex Salmond's life from loving wife of 40 years to 'monumental' SNP leader

Mr Salmond has been described as a 'monumental' figure in the Scottish politics with a career spanning over 30 years.

By Richard Ashmore, Senior News Reporter

18:16, Sat, Oct 12, 2024 | UPDATED: 18:34, Sat, Oct 12, 2024

Alex Salmomnd

A photo of Alex Salmond taken during an event for the Alba Party (Image: Getty )

Alex Salmond, a political giant of the Scottish independence movement for more than three decades, has died aged 69.

Mr Salmond served as First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014 and was leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) on two occasions, from 1990 to 2000 and from 2004 to 2014.

More recently he was instrumental in forming the rival independence party, Alba, of which he was the leader.

The effervescent and sometimes bombastic politician first entered Westminster as an MP for the SNP for Banff and Buchan in the 1987 General Election during Margaret Thatcher's reign as Prime Minister.

In just three years he would go on to take over as leader of the SNP, a position he would hold for around 20 years.

The University of St Andrews-educated MP was married to wife Moira, now aged 87 and the couple had no children. The pair were married for over 40 years. She had become his boss when he joined the Scottish Office in the 1970s. They closely protectd thir private lives and she was rarely seen in public appearances.

He was born in Linlithgow, a small town west of Edinburgh, on December 31, 1954. According to the BBC, both his parents were civil servants.

Alex Salmond

Alex Salmond with the Scottish flag, dreamed of independence for his home nation (Image: Getty )

When the Scottish Parliament was formed under Tony Blair's Labour government, Mr Salmond joined the legislature in 1999, having previously won his Westminster seat as an MP in 1992 and 1997.

Mr Salmond quite the Scottish Parliament in 2001 and was succeeded as leader of the SNP by John Swinney, but he would later replace him in 2004 after the SNP performed poorly in the European Elections.

In 2012 under Mr Salmond the SNP won a majority in the Scottish Parliament which then saw him sign a deal with the UK Prime Minister David Cameron for an independece referendum in 2014.

The SNP subsequently lost the 'Yes' campaign to break up the United Kingdom and Mr Salmond resigned as leader to be replaced by Nicola Sturgeon.

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Alex Salmond in a photo taken in July

One of the last photos of Mr Salmond taken in July (Image: Getty )

In 2017 Mr Salmond lost his seat as an MP to the Conservatives and went on to host a talk show on the RT channel.

In March 2020 he was cleared of all charges against him in a criminal trial after a series of allegations of sexual misconduct were made against him while he was First Minister.

In 2021 Mr Salmond joined the Alba Party as leader.

Floods of tributes have poured in for the veterain politician, with Sir Keir Starmer calling him a "monumental figure of Scottish and UK politics".

The Prime Minister said: "For more than 30 years, Alex Salmond was a monumental figure of Scottish and UK politics. He leaves behind a lasting legacy.

Former prime minister Rishi Sunak said Mr Salmond was a "huge figure in our politics".

In a tribute posted on X, Mr Sunak added: "While I disagreed with him on the constitutional question, there was no denying his skill in debate or his passion for politics. May he rest in peace."

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said Mr Salmond was "a central figure in politics for over three decades".

In a statement, Mr Sarwar said: "The sad news of Alex Salmond's passing today will come as a shock to all who knew him in Scotland, across the UK and beyond."