LEADING figures from the Yes Scotland campaign have paid tribute to former first minister Alex Salmond following his sudden death aged 69.
Former MP and MSP Dennis Canavan, who was chair of the Yes Scotland advisory board, said Salmond was the “most courageous of politicians” and described his contribution to the independence cause as “immense”.
Former Yes Scotland chief executive Blair Jenkins, meanwhile, said it was a “privilege” to work with Salmond, describing him as a “source of big ideas and bold moves”.
Salmond was attending a conference in North Macedonia on Saturday when he died.
He had made a speech at the Cultural Diplomacy Forum in the city of Ohrid on Friday before attending meetings on Saturday morning.
Mark Donfried, director of the Academy for Cultural Diplomacy, said Salmond suddenly collapsed on Saturday afternoon during a lunch they were both attending.
Canavan (below, right) told The National: “Alex Salmond was one of the most vilified but most courageous of politicians.
“On his own admission, Alex had his faults but his contribution to the cause of Scottish independence was immense.
“It is now up to others to finish the job but independence, when it comes, will be very much the legacy of Alex Salmond.”
Canavan said on Twitter he had had the “privilege” of sharing a platform with Salmond last month and his thoughts were with his wife Moira and the family.
He said: “I’d known Alex for many years when he asked me in 2012 to run the Yes Scotland campaign, but it only really became a friendship in the course of the next two years. We had many conversations – often over a good dinner – and he was always very generous with his time and his support.
“It was a privilege to work with him at the height of his powers – always strategic, always looking ahead and always a source of big ideas and bold moves.”
Jenkins (above) said by the formal start of the referendum campaign in 2014 it had become the “biggest grassroots movement in Scottish political history”.
Pat Kane, who was also on the advisory board, said on Twitter/X Salmond had been a “key figure” in his own journey to believing in Scottish independence.
“Abrasive, often brilliant and brave, in pursuit of the cause. Really, the end of an era,” said Kane.
Another board member and Scottish Greens co-leader Patrick Harvie said Salmond’s death was “shocking news” and offered “sincere condolences” to his friends and family.
Former first minister and close ally of Salmond, Nicola Sturgeon, described her predecessor as having been an “incredibly significant figure” in her life despite their public and bruising fallout in recent years.
She said she "cannot pretend" their relationship breakdown had not happened, but still regarded him as having been her "mentor".
“He was my mentor, and for more than a decade we formed one of the most successful partnerships in UK politics,” Sturgeon said.
"Alex modernised the SNP and led us into government for the first time, becoming Scotland’s fourth First Minister and paving the way for the 2014 referendum which took Scotland to the brink of independence.
“He will be remembered for all of that.”
