The First Minister said he would be ‘very happy to attend’ but wanted to ‘judiciously follow’ the wishes of Alex Salmond’s family.
Mr Swinney spoke to journalists in Glasgow today, nine days after the former First Minister died of a heart attack in North Macedonia aged 69.
Mr Salmond’s body was flown back to Aberdeen on Friday after Scottish billionaire Sir Tom Hunter paid to charter a plane.
Questions have been raised around whether Mr Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon will attend the former First Minister’s funeral as well as memorial service. Sources close to Ms Sturgeon said she may be ‘banned’ from going to her former mentor’s funeral.
Asked by Sky News if he will attend the memorial service, Mr Swinney said “I will do whatever is appropriate as First Minister of Scotland. I will pay the appropriate tributes, I will read the motion of condolence in the Scottish Parliament and if it’s appropriate for me to be at a memorial service, I will do exactly that.
❓Will SNP leader John Swinney attend Alex Salmond’s public memorial event?
— Connor Gillies (@ConnorGillies) October 22, 2024
🗣️“I will do whatever is appropriate…”@SkyNews pic.twitter.com/F9sSwn2obm
"I want to make sure that I judiciously follow the wishes of Alex Salmond’s family and I will do that in all these circumstances.”
The plane carrying Mr Salmond’s body back to Scotland last week was met by Mr Salmond’s family, along with Alba Party acting leader Kenny MacAskill.
Asked if it was shameful that no one from the Scottish or UK Government turned up to pay their respects to Alex Salmond, Mr Swinney said: “I think what’s important is that at all times we followed the wishes of Alex Salmond’s family and that’s what's been uppermost in my mind.”
Pushed further on why he could not say whether he would attend, Mr Swinney said: “I would be very happy to attend the memorial service but I am stressing the point that I’m doing whatever the wishes are of Alex Salmond’s family.”
The First Minister said he spoke to Mr Salmond’s family about the repatriation of his body and he welcomed businessman Sir Tom coming forward to pay for the flight. His comments come after it was understood the Scottish Government was considering covering the cost.
Mr Salmond’s funeral, which will be attended by family and close friends, will take place on October 29th in Strichen, Aberdeenshire.
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