Alex Salmond former First Minister of Scotland has died at the age of 69

Alex Salmond, a prominent figure in Scottish and UK politics, has passed away after collapsing while delivering a speech in North Macedonia. He was a central figure in politics for over three decades, leading the Scottish National Party (SNP) twice and guiding it from a fringe group into a powerful electoral force. Salmond was the nation's first pro-independence first minister, serving from 2007 until 2014, when Scotland voted to remain part of the UK in a referendum. He later resigned from the SNP in 2018 amid sexual harassment allegations. Salmond was a divisive figure, and while he had his supporters, he also had many detractors. King Charles and Prime Minister Keir Starmer have paid tribute to Salmond, with the prime minister describing him as a "monumental figure of Scottish and UK politics".