The Alba Party has confirmed that the body of former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond will be returned to Scotland on Friday, following his death from a heart attack in North Macedonia on Saturday. A private family funeral is to be held, followed by a public memorial event. A plane has been chartered to repatriate Salmond’s body, with the flight scheduled to arrive in Aberdeen at 13:45 on Friday. Acting Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill and members of Salmond’s family will greet the coffin before a cortege departs for the family home in Strichen.
Across the political spectrum, politicians have paid tribute to Salmond’s legacy in Scottish and UK politics since his death. First Minister John Swinney has lodged a motion of condolence at Holyrood, while books of condolence have been opened for MSPs and members of the public to leave messages at the Scottish Parliament. In Westminster, Keir Starmer, Rishi Sunak and Ed Davey also paid tribute to Salmond.
Ahead of Scotland’s football match against Portugal on Tuesday, fans held a minute’s applause for Salmond. A “monumental figure”, according to Starmer, Salmond was also a controversial figure, amid allegations of sexual harassment. Salmond was cleared of sexual assault at the High Court in 2020, but complaints against him have been subject to ongoing investigation
Read the full article from The BBC here: Read More
