Alex Salmond, Scotland’s fourth first minister, and a former leader of the SNP, has died aged 69. 

He collapsed at conference in North Macedonia, organised by the Institute for Cultural Diplomacy Forum. 

According to reports, he collapsed at a lunch he attended after making a speech arguing that Scotland’s rejection of independence in 2014 had been the catalyst for a “miserable decade in the UK”.

There were tributes from across the political spectrum. Boris Johnson described him as “one of the great political disruptors of the age,” while Sir Keir Starmer said he was a “monumental figure.”

Nicola Sturgeon said her predecessor was "an incredibly significant figure in my life.”

(Image: PA Wire)

Mr Salmond joined the SNP in 1973, allegedly after an argument with his then-girlfriend who told him "if you feel like that, go and join the bloody SNP".

He was the leader of the so-called 79 Group, a left-wing Republican movement which was highly critical of incumbent party leadership and looked to shift the party's position.

Mr Salmond, along with other leaders of the group, was expelled in 1982 but subsequently re-admitted and at the 1987 general election he was elected as the MP for Banff and Buchan.

Read More:

He became leader of the party in 1990, defeating Margaret Ewing, but stood down in 2000 after a number of disagreements with party leaders.

Following an electoral slump, he returned in 2004, taking the SNP to victory at the 2007 Holyrood election and leading a minority government for the next four years. 

In 2011, he and his party won a majority in the Scottish Parliament, an achievement so unlikely it was thought impossible. 

The victory ultimately paved the way for the 2014 independence referendum.

Support for independence was as low as 32% at the time the vote was called, but by 18 September 2014, the Yes side had closed the gap significantly.

One poll in the days leading up to the vote even gave independence the lead.

Following a 45-55 defeat, Mr Salmond stood down as SNP leader and First Minister. In his concession speech, he quoted Ted Kennedy, when he told supporters that "the dream shall never die".

He made a brief return to the Commons, winning the Gordon constituency in 2015 as part of an SNP landslide.

He was ousted two years later when Colin Clark won the seat for the Tories at the snap election. 

(Image: Stewart Attwood)

In the weeks after his defeat, he launched his own chat show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe. It was soon picked up by the Kremlin-backed news channel RT, which strained his relationship with Nicola Sturgeon. 

That relationship broke down completely when sexual harassment allegations came to light in 2018.

Two civil servants accused him of sexual misconduct during his time as first minister. 

He won a judicial review against the government’s handling of the harassment complaints, with the courts saying it was unlawful, unfair and tainted by apparent bias.

Shortly afterwards, he was arrested and charged with 14 counts, including two of rape.

He was acquitted of all the allegations following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh. 

He claimed there was a conspiracy against him and that senior figures in the Scottish Government and SNP had conspired to send him to prison.

Kenny MacAskill, the former justice secretary, who joined Mr Salmond in his new party Alba said the "actions of individuals and later administrations undoubtedly took their toll upon" his friend. 

"Courts will still rightly decide upon the actions of individuals whose behaviour towards him was deplorable and shameful."

In her tribute, Nicola Sturgeon said she “cannot pretend that the events of the past few years which led to the breakdown of our relationship did not happen, and it would not be right for me to try.”

She added: “However, it remains the fact that for many years Alex was an incredibly significant figure in my life. He was my mentor, and for more than a decade we formed one of the most successful partnerships in UK politics.

“Alex modernised the SNP and led us into government for the first time, becoming Scotland’s fourth first minister and paving the way for the 2014 referendum which took Scotland to the brink of independence.

“He will be remembered for all of that. My thoughts are with Moira, his wider family and his friends.”

First Minister John Swinney, added: “I am deeply shocked and saddened at the untimely death of the former first minister Alex Salmond, and I extend my deepest condolences to Alex’s wife Moira and to his family.

“Over many years, Alex made an enormous contribution to political life, not just within Scotland, but across the UK and beyond.

“Alex worked tirelessly and fought fearlessly for the country that he loved and for her independence. He took the Scottish National Party from the fringes of Scottish politics into government and led Scotland so close to becoming an independent country.

“There will be much more opportunity to reflect in the coming days, but today all of our thoughts are with Alex’s family and his many friends right across the political spectrum.”

Mr Salmond is survived by his wife of 43 years, Moria.