Analysis: Anger over Salmond's treatment will only intensify

Back in February I watched Alex Salmond give evidence to Westminster's Scottish Affairs Committee which was carrying out an inquiry into relations between the Scottish and UK governments over the 25 years since the Scotland Act in 1998.

He answered the questions from MPs at length, speaking eloquently and in depth about his experience in working with different administrations during the course of his tenure as First Minister from 2007 to 2014.

MPs of all political stripes were clearly impressed with his understanding of the subject and recall of particular events and meetings. SNP MPs seemed particularly struck by their former leader, warmly welcoming him to the meeting.

The committee's chair, the SNP MP Pete Wishart wrote on X later: "Alex was excellent at my committee today. Gave a fascinating account of his time in government and resisted all opportunities to attack the Scottish Government. Imagine what could be possible if he was to deal with the vile haters and obsessives in his party..."

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Mr Wishart's comment and the positive reception Mr Salmond received from the committee, particularly its SNP MPs, made me wonder if there could be a rapprochement between him and his former party.

The article provoked some comments to me afterwards -among some in the SNP and Alba that they would like it to happen - and among others outside the pro independence parties who severely doubted it.

First Minister John Swinney will have to contend with growing anger among Mr Salmond's allies. (Image: Jeff Mitchell) "That's never going to happen," one UK government source told me at the time.

As it turns out the Westminster insider was correct.

Mr Salmond died suddenly in North Macedonia on Saturday aged 69 still alienated from the party he built up from the fringes to become the party that has dominated Scottish politics for the past 17 years.

If the extent of that alienation wasn't apparent before his death it has certainly become abundantly so since.

There were warm words from people he felt out with publicly in particular Nicola Sturgeon.

Some of the tributes seemed in sharp contrast to the bitter words towards him in recent months and years.

Read more:

Unspun | Will Alex Salmond's death unite the Scottish independence movement?

In his statement of tribute on Saturday, Kenny MacAskill, the now acting Alba leader, revealed his opinion towards how the Scottish Government treated the former First Minister, signalling that a Court of Session action launched by Mr Salmond against the administration would continue. (He said on Monday the decision would be up to Mr Salmond's family.)

"The actions of individuals and later administrations undoubtedly took their toll upon him. Courts will still rightly decide upon the actions of individuals whose behaviour towards him was deplorable and shameful," Mr MacAskill said.

The following day former SNP MP Joanna Cherry KC could not conceal her fury telling BBC Scotland's Sunday Show that Mr Salmond has been "stabbed in the back" by former colleagues in the SNP and that their behaviour towards him was "disgusting".

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And on Tuesday the SNP MSP Fergus Ewing weighed into the controversy comparing the SNP's treatment of Mr Salmond by his former party to that of Joseph Stalin of his foes.

The dark mood among the allies, fuelled by their loyalty to Mr Salmond and their profound grief at his sudden loss, shows no signs of diminishing.

As plans continue for the former First Minister's body to be brought back to Scotland and preparations for his funeral get underway, expect this anger to intensify.