Alex Salmond, ‘monumental figure’ of Scottish politics, dies at 69

Scottish former First Minister Alex Salmond, who helped change the course of Scottish politics and pushed Scotland to the verge of independence from the United Kingdom, died on Saturday. He was 69.
Salmond, who headed the devolved Scottish government for seven years from 2007, is credited with helping boost support for Scottish independence during a 2014 referendum in which Scots voted 55%-45% in favour of staying in the United Kingdom.
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“He cared deeply about Scotland’s heritage, history, and culture, as well as the communities he represented.”
After constitutional changes re-established a Scottish Parliament in 1999, Salmond oversaw the transformation of the SNP from a tiny number of lawmakers in London’s parliament to the dominant political force in Scotland.

The independence movement that he led sent shock waves through Britain’s political elite and energized Scottish politics.
His reputation was damaged by allegations of sexual assault dating back to when he was first minister from 2007 to 2014, including one charge of attempted rape. He was cleared of all charges in 2020, following a trial.

In 2021, Salmond established a party called Alba – after the Scottish Gaelic name for Scotland – which had little electoral success, and he courted controversy by hosting a political talk show on Russian channel RT.