NICOLA Sturgeon has said she will not be attending the memorial service for Alex Salmond.
In a statement, the former first minister said she had been “wrestling with how to pay appropriate respect to an individual who had a big impact on me”.
We previously told how the Alba Party said reports that Sturgeon would not be allowed to attend were “premature”.
It comes one day after the private funeral of Salmond – who died aged 69 after suffering a heart attack in North Macedonia – took place in Strichen.
Sturgeon (below) said she was not attending the motion of condolence in Holyrood on Wednesday afternoon and would instead be watching it online.
She said: “I have experienced a range of emotions since Alex Salmond’s death.
“I feel the loss of someone who for many years was an incredibly important person in my life. At the same time, I cannot pretend that the events of the past few years did not happen.
“At a very human level, I have been wrestling with how to pay appropriate respect to an individual who had a big impact on me – and on the life of the country – but in a way that feels right, and which does not distract from the grief of Alex’ family, who are the people who matter most right now.
“Weighing all this up, I have concluded that it is best for me to remember Alex privately. For the purposes of today that will mean watching the motion of condolence online rather than being physically present in the chamber.
“I appreciate that others in my position might make different decisions, but sometimes doing what feels most right is the best any of us can do.”
