First Minister Alex Salmond yesterday led tributes to prominent Scottish Nationalist Professor Sir Neil MacCormick who has died from cancer. Mr Salmond said he was "deeply saddened" by his death.

The First Minister said Sir Neil, who was 67, was "a man of immense warmth, intellect and breadth of knowledge, and Scotland's public life is greatly the poorer for his passing".

Sir Neil, whose father, John, founded a forerunner of the Scottish National Party, had been battling cancer for a year.

Mr Salmond said he had been passionately committed to his party and the cause of Scottish independence.

"Yet his approach was always inclusive, and he strongly believed in advancing Scotland's case by building alliances, and indeed friendships, beyond those of party," said Mr Salmond.

"Neil was a hugely distinguished academic, an outstanding ambassador for Scotland as a Euro MP, but above all a fine human being.

"His latter role was as a Scottish Government special adviser, where he made an excellent and important contribution even during his period of illness."

Sir Neil's death was announced "with enormous sadness and regret" by Edinburgh University, where for 36 years he was regius professor of public law.

Scottish Secretary Jim Murphy said he was "very saddened" by Sir Neil's death.

"He was one of Scotland's most influential scholars in the fields of both law and politics, but above all he was a Scottish patriot and that is a bond that binds him to many - regardless of one's political motivations," said Mr Murphy.

"His long and distinguished political and academic career has made an enduring contribution to Scotland's modern landscape."

Conservative MEP Struan Stevenson said Sir Neil had been a "great friend and a great colleague".

He was "a fantastic ambassador for Scotland and will be sorely missed by everyone who knew him".

Professor Douglas Brodie, Head of the University of Edinburgh's School of Law, said: "Neil was a valued friend, mentor, teacher and colleague to many people in the world of law and politics.

"His death will bring great sadness to many in the world of education, law and politics and to his many students, colleagues, admirers and friends. He possessed a staggering intellect, great wit and a wonderful, dry sense of humour, but most of all a warmth and spirit that touched all who knew him."

Sir Neil is survived by his wife Flora and three daughters from a previous marriage.