The Law firm that represented Alex Salmond has paid tribute to the former First Minister and described him as a ‘true giant of the political world’ who endured what would have ‘broken many people’.

Tributes from across the world of Scottish and UK politics have been pouring in for the late Alba party leader who died suddenly at the age of 69 from a suspected heart attack on Saturday 12 October.

Mr Salmond was in attending an international conference in North Macedonia, where he gave a speech. The Government said he lost consciousness at the Inex Olgica hotel, near the city of Ohrid at around 3:30pm local time, while local media reports said he collapsed at lunch and was pronounced dead at the scene.

Salmond’s lawyers are the latest to pay tribute to him, following messages from King Charles III Sir John Curtice, David Cameron and current First Minister John Swinney.

Levy and McRae’s senior partner, David McKie described Mr Salmond as one of the leading politicians of his generation who has a ‘unique’ ability to connect with everyone from people in the street up to heads of state and royalty.

Mr McKie who recently led the legal teams for Alex Salmond in his successful judicial review against the Scottish government, and the criminal trial as well, said that Salmond was a man who showed ‘stoic restraint’ and that when ‘the apparatus of the state turned against him’, he showed no bitterness or anger towards a situation that would have ‘broken many people’.

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In the solicitor's statement, Callum Anderson, Levy and McRae’s Head of Regulatory Crime who co-led the criminal defence team in the firm described working with the former First Minister of Scotland as an ‘inspiring experience’.

The statement in full read:

"As a firm, Levy & McRae is very saddened to hear of the loss of Alex Salmond."

David McKie, senior partner of the firm, said: “Alex was a true giant of the political world both in Scotland and across the UK. He was unquestionably one of the leading politicians of his generation. He was widely respected across all political viewpoints. He had a unique ability to connect with the person in the street right up to heads of state and royalty. It comes as no surprise to read the many testimonials which followed his untimely death.

“Our involvement with Alex came after his tenure as First Minister and at a difficult time in his life and career.

“While we helped to navigate Alex through three legal processes (judicial review, a trial and the subsequent parliamentary inquiry), the real driving force in all of those processes was Alex himself. He very quickly grasped the legal issues involved and fought hard to ensure that justice was done. 

“Alex’s courage and strength of character over the three-year period, from the Scottish Government launching an illegal process against him, throughout his criminal trial in which he was cleared on all charges by a jury of his peers, to his unimpeachable evidence in the Parliamentary Inquiry, was absolutely incredible.

“What he endured - the apparatus of the state turning against him - would have broken many people, but not Alex.

“He remained utterly determined to see justice done, but showed no bitterness or anger towards his accusers or to the many others who jumped on the bandwagon to condemn him, even before any evidence had been produced or presented.

(Image: Gordon Terris)

“Instead, he simply focussed on the evidence and understood, unlike many commentators at the time, the importance of the due process of law. While some individuals, for whatever reasons, remained critical and sceptical (even after three overwhelming legal victories, all of which were grounded on the evidence), his friends and his true supporters, as well as those who respect the rule and process of law, recognised and respected his complete vindication.

“I will always remember a truly incredible human being, with remarkable insight, strength of personality and a stoic restraint which many others could not contemplate. I cannot fail to mention either his kindness, loyalty, his ability with people and, remarkably, the wonderful sense of humour he managed to show throughout and despite his tribulations.

“My thoughts go out to Moira and to his very close friends and associates whom I had the privilege of getting to know through an otherwise horrendous period in Alex’s life. While there are still some injustices to be resolved, I hope Alex could rest in the knowledge that he was unequivocally vindicated and that he retained the love and respect of those who most mattered to him.’

 Callum Anderson, Head of Regulatory Crime, who co-led the criminal defence team in the firm, said: “Working with Alex was a unique and inspiring experience. He exemplified resolve, forensic focus and a strategic understanding which are normally the preserve of only very experienced lawyers.

“I stood next to Alex when he was first arrested and charged and was at his side when he gave a truly unforgettable speech on the day of his acquittal. That day coincided with the start of lockdown and, despite Alex having been overwhelmingly cleared, his focus was instead on those suffering  the impact of the pandemic. That was the mark of the man."