MPs have paid tribute to Alex Salmond after the former first minister passed away over the weekend.
Salmond, 69, died suddenly on Saturday afternoon from a suspected heart attack during a trip to North Macedonia.
Leading the tributes was SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn (below), who reflected on the moment Salmond lost his seat in parliament for the first time in 30 years.
“In the wee hours of June 9, 2017, I watched on as the most talented, formidable and consequential politician of his generation – a man who had represented the people of Banff and Buchan, Aberdeenshire East, and Gordon, a man who had served for two terms as the first minister of Scotland – lost his parliamentary seat for the first time in 30 years,” he said.
“And it's a moment that I will never forget, not because of the nature of his defeat, but for what happened next.
“Because within just a few moments, Alex Salmond took to the podium and gave a speech which, despite all of the despair which those of us in the SNP felt in the room that night, made us feel 10 feet tall.
“He gave us back the hope that things would get better and would get better quickly.
“Rabbie Burns once wrote that ‘The heart ay 's the part ay, That makes us right or wrang’.
“Well, Alex gave all of us in the SNP the belief that what we felt in our hearts was worth fighting for, that the belief that we could one day become an independent nation.
“Alex Salmond took us so very close to making that belief a reality.
“At this time of profound shock and sorrow, Mr Speaker, I send my heartfelt personal condolences to his wife, Moira, his wider family, his friends and his legion of fans across the nationalist movement and within the Alba party itself.
“It's of great personal sorrow to me that Alex Salmond will not live to see Scotland become an independent nation.
“The challenge for all of us now in the nationalist movement is to make sure that we put good his legacy and deliver the future that he so badly fought for throughout his distinguished parliamentary career.”
Jeremy Corbyn welcomed the comments made by Flynn, saying that he “spoke very well and very movingly” about Salmond’s contribution to life.
In an apparent swipe at the current Labour leadership, Corbyn (below) added: “I think that’s very generous because the SNP clearly treat its former leaders with great respect, and I think that’s a good idea.”
He continued: “During his time here he was a good friend to lots of us, he always opposed wars, he always stood up for civil liberties and for justice, and his strength of character – in Scotland and the wider world – made the SNP the party it is, the formidable force it became, and it make the arguments for Scottish independence something that was cogent, realistic and understandable.
“Alex Salmond lived life to the full, spoke to the full, was totally involved in absolutely everything he did, and was an amazing and friendly force around this place.”
The SNP’s Pete Wishart also paid tribute to the former first minister.
“It was with a sense of disbelief that we heard this news on Saturday afternoon, and I think we all had to double check that they were referring to the Alex Salmond that we all got to know so well,” he told the Commons.
“In fifty years he has become a collosus, a huge political figure in Scotland, and it’s almost impossible to think of Scottish politics without Alex Salmond.”
Wishart (below) called Salmond “a man of many talents, of many facets”.
He added: “Watching him conduct political debates and working a room was watching a political masterclass in engagement and communication.
“He was able to do this with a charm that was so effective, and it was so beguiling, that people naturally felt that they wanted to contribute and be with Alex Salmond.
“Scotland will miss Alec, we will all miss Alec in the Scottish National Party, and we’ve always got to remember that he came so close to delivering what so many people thought was almost impossible – Scotland becoming an independent nation.
“That would never have been possible without the energy, the charisma and dynamism of Alex Salmond.”
Commons Speaker Lindsay Hoyle said Salmond leaves a “deep and lasting legacy” following his sudden death.
Speaking to MPs earlier on Monday, Hoyle (below) said: “He served the people of Scotland for over 30 years as a member of this House, a member of the Scottish Parliament and, of course, two terms as first minister of Scotland.
“He was a tireless campaigner for Scottish independence, securing the UK government’s agreement for the 2014 referendum and playing a leading role in the Yes campaign.
“His final departure from this House was in 2017. It marked the first occasion in more than three decades when he was not serving in an elected role at either here or Holyrood.
“He leaves a deep and lasting legacy behind him. His sudden death at the weekend came as a complete shock and the thoughts of this whole House are with his family and friends at this difficult time.”
In Scotland, First Minister John Swinney has lodged a motion of condolence in Holyrood to pay tribute to the former first minister.
A book of condolences has also been set up at the Scottish Parliament for MSPs to pay tribute.
