Friends and family of Alex Salmond have bid farewell to the former first minister at a private funeral service in Strichen.

The 69-year-old Alba leader died suddenly in North Macedonia earlier this month. He had been speaking at a conference in the country when he suffered a heart attack.

A number of political figures were among the mourners at the funeral, including former Commons speaker John Bercow and Alba Party chairwoman Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh.

Former SNP MPs Jim Sillars and Joanna Cherry also attended.

First Minister John Swinney did not attend. A spokesperson it was “in line with the wishes” of Mr Salmond's family who wanted to keep the funeral private.

(Image: Andrew Milligan/PA)

Close friend Fergus Ewing delivered the eulogy and promised to “seek justice for Alex." The veteran MSP said he would be “devoted” to the task. 

Before his death, Mr Salmond alleged that there was a conspiracy among senior SNP figures, including Nicola Sturgeon, to imprison him.

In 2019, he was charged with sexually assaulting nine women.

The women who made the allegations against Mr Salmond included an SNP politician, a party worker and current and former Scottish Government civil servants and officials

A jury found him not guilty of 12 of the charges, while another was found not proven.

Ms Sturgeon has always rejected claims of a conspiracy.

In his eulogy, Mr Ewing spoke of how Mr Salmond had “transformed the party in the course of many tough years, eventually leading the SNP to victory in 2007 and thence to an overall majority in 2011.” 

“And in a strategic performance redolent of a Chess Grandmaster, he outmanoeuvred the UK establishment in securing the referendum,” he added.

“Contrary to some recent and rather pathetic attempts to re-write history, it was Alex who led the referendum campaign. And not just that, he utterly dominated it. He put in performances in debates on TV which were brilliant and at times almost mesmeric.

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“Similarly, Alex made the success of the modern SNP. He secured the jobs of countless MPs and MSPs. He made them. They owe their living to him. Without him they would never have got elected.

“As my late father was wont to say in a tone reminiscent of the Reverend IM Jolly, 'never do anyone a favour or they’ll never forgive you.'

“Ladies and Gentlemen, given the remarkable achievements of his life I cannot in this short eulogy do justice to Alex.

"But something that I can do, working with many others — something that I have sought to do when Alex was with us — is to seek justice for Alex. And for the cause of truth and democracy. 

“In that task I am devoted. That is for one day, but not for this day.”

(Image: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty) In his eulogy, Kenny MacAskill labelled Mr Salmond the “outstanding political figure in Scotland not just of his generation but for generations past and likely for generations to come.”

He said: “A giant of a man, the leader of our country, the leader of our movement. 

“An inspiration, a political genius, an orator, debater and communicator without parallel.”

Mr MacAskill added: “Terrorist attacks, international events and severe financial challenges all faced but all were overcome. 

“The legacy he bequeathed is all around. From roads and bridges to rights such as free prescriptions and no tuition fees. That was him. 

“So, farewell my friend when will we see your like again."

Mr Salmond's niece Christina Hendry told the service that in the period since his death, "we have felt the grief of a nation, and beyond".

She added: "For everyone in this room we have felt the loss differently.

"Uncle Alex was an important person to many, but to us, he was a husband, a brother, an uncle, a colleague and a dear friend."

Fergus Ewing and his sister Anabelle Ewing arrived at Alex Salmond's funeral in Strichen.Fergus Ewing and his sister Anabelle Ewing arrived at Alex Salmond's funeral in Strichen. (Image: Andrew Milligan/PA) The minister conducting the funeral said it is an “incredibly difficult day for the family”.

Speaking ahead of the service, the Rev Dr Ian McEwan said: “I am a longstanding friend of Alex’s siblings, they are a very tight-knit family and over the decades I got to know Alex at family gatherings like birthdays.

“I conducted his niece’s wedding and took his dad’s funeral.

“These are desperately sad circumstances and anyone who has been through grief will understand that this is an incredibly difficult day for the family.

“There is palpable shock over Alex’s passing and folk can well imagine the distress and sorrow within the family.

“He was the life and soul of the party and played a leading role in his family, and the privacy of the funeral is to give them space to grieve and say farewell to a husband, a brother and an uncle whom they loved dearly.”

(Image: Andrew Milligan/PA) After the funeral, piper Fergus Mutch, who previously worked for Mr Salmond, led a procession to the cemetery at Strichen for a private service.

A public memorial service to remember the former first minister will be held at a later date.

Mr Swinney will lead tributes to Mr Salmond at a motion of condolence in Holyrood on Wednesday.