Legacy of a Titan: Remembering Alex Salmond, Scotland’s Formidable First Minister and Independence Champion

Obituary: Remembering Alex Salmond, Scotland's Former First Minister

Alex Salmond, the former First Minister of Scotland, initially entered the halls of Westminster as an MP in 1987. His most enduring legacy, however, is likely the 2012 pact he brokered with then British Prime Minister David Cameron, which set the stage for the Scottish independence referendum, a momentous event that remains a significant part of his political heritage throughout the UK.

Scotland correspondent @Jenster13

Saturday, October 12, 2024, 10:

Alex Salmond has passed away at 69 years old.

Whether one admires or detests Mr. Salmond, who earned the nickname "Marmite man" amid his prominent trial, it's hard to argue against his capabilities and successes in politics.

Under the guidance of an avid golfer and horse racing enthusiast, the SNP ascended to prominence, establishing itself as a dominant force in Scottish politics.

Many believe that without Mr. Salmond's political skills, the 2014 Scottish independence vote might never have happened.

In the wake of his passing, we reflect on the life and legacy of the former First Minister of Scotland, as accolades and memories pour in.

Alex Salmond secured his initial seat in the UK Parliament in 1987, representing Banff and Buchan as an SNP member, a role he held until 2010.

In 1990, he emerged victorious over Margaret Ewing in the contest for the leadership of the SNP, subsequently advocating for Scottish devolution in 1997.

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In 1999, following the creation of the Scottish Parliament due to the devolution process, he steered his party through the initial Scottish parliamentary elections, securing a seat as MSP for Banff and Buchan and assuming the role of leader of the opposition, as Labour held the reins of power.

One year on, Mr. Salmond stepped down from his role as leader of the SNP following several notable disagreements with other party members, paving the way for John Swinney, the present first minister, to take over the leadership.

In 2001, he resigned from his position at Holyrood to take charge of the SNP faction in Westminster.

After suffering a severe setback in the 2004 European Parliament elections, Mr. Swinney resigned from his position as the leader of the SNP. Subsequently, Mr. Salmond was chosen to lead the party once again, receiving a resounding endorsement from its members

After a successful effort in the 2007 Scottish election, the SNP increased their seat count by 20, bringing their total to 47 at Holyrood, which put them one seat ahead of Scottish Labour.

Despite not securing a clear majority, Mr. Salmond, the newly elected MSP for Gordon, took office as Scotland's first minister in 2007.

In the 2011 elections in Scotland, the Scottish National Party (SNP) achieved an unprecedented overall majority in the Scottish Parliament, with Mr. Salmond being re-elected for a second term as First Minister and serving as the Member of the Scottish Parliament for the newly formed Aberdeenshire East constituency.

In 2012, Mr. Salmond entered into a pact with the British Prime Minister at the time, David Cameron, to organize a 2014 referendum on whether Scotland should become independent.

The significant occurrence, poised to potentially separate Scotland from the United Kingdom, happened on September 18, 2014. Over two million individuals, accounting for 55.3% of voters, opted against the split, while around 1.6 million, or 44.7%, supported it.

After his party's loss, Mr. Salmond resigned from his roles as the first minister and leader of the SNP, handing over leadership to Nicola Sturgeon.

During a conversation with Sky News commemorating the decade since the independence vote, Mr. Salmond revealed that he began drafting his concession speech as soon as the initial results came in.

Mr. Salmond made his comeback to Parliament as the MP for Gordon during the 2015 general elections, only to be unseated by the Conservative candidate Colin Clark in the 2017 elections.

This defeat was the first occasion since 1987 that Mr. Salmond did not hold an elected office in either Westminster or Holyrood.

Mr. Salmond proceeded to initiate The Alex Salmond Show on RT, previously known as Russia Today, a channel that is editorially managed and financed by the Russian government.

Scottish politicians rebuked Mr. Salmond for choosing to air his show on RT, with Ms. Sturgeon noting that she would have recommended against it.

The program, co-hosted by Mr. Salmond's mentee Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, was halted after the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Undeterred, a fresh program named Scotland Speaks with Alex Salmond premiered a year later on the Turkish public broadcaster TRT. The inaugural episode included a conversation with Hollywood star Brian Cox.

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Prior to this, Mr. Salmond stepped down from the SNP in August 2018 amid accusations of sexual misconduct during his tenure as first minister.

Mr. Salmond expressed his desire to prevent splits within the party as there were demands for his suspension.

Mr. Salmond firmly rejected any allegations of misconduct and expressed his intention to rejoin the SNP after clearing his name.

Mr. Salmond proceeded to sue the Scottish government to contest the complaints process that had been initiated against him.

A judicial review found the investigation to be compromised by apparent bias, resulting in Mr. Salmond receiving an award of £512,000.

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In January 2019, Mr. Salmond was taken into custody by Police Scotland and faced charges encompassing 14 offenses. These included two attempted rape charges, nine charges of sexual assault, two charges of indecent assault, and one charge related to disturbing public order.

In March 2020, Mr. Salmond was acquitted on all counts. The jury acquitted him of 12 charges, prosecutors withdrew one charge during the proceedings, and another charge resulted in a verdict of not proven.

At a legal proceeding of the case, which was under a media blackout until the trial concluded, Mr. Salmond's legal representatives argued that the Scottish government and its employees resorted to criminal proceedings in an attempt to tarnish his reputation following his victory in the civil lawsuit concerning the government’s management of sexual harassment allegations against him.

Testimony presented in the courtroom painted a damaging picture of Mr. Salmond, highlighting accusations of intimidating and overbearing conduct.

Defense attorney Gordon Jackson KC suggested to the court that Mr. Salmond had a tactile, affectionate nature.

During the trial, the jury was presented with evidence of misconduct. This included Mr. Salmond acknowledging that he engaged in a "sleepy cuddle" with one accuser and had sexual interactions with two others, none of whom were his spouse, Moira.

In his final remarks, Mr. Jackson characterized his client as a "Marmite man" and admitted that he "might have improved as a person."

Following two separate investigations into the behavior of officials and ministers, Mr. Salmond expressed his conviction that numerous members of his previous party had conspired to prevent his comeback to prominent political roles.

Following his acquittal, Mr. Salmond promised that proof of a conspiracy to tarnish his reputation would eventually be revealed.

Formerly close allies, the relationship between Mr. Salmond and Ms. Sturgeon deteriorated following accusations of sexual harassment and the ensuing legal proceedings.

In 2021, Mr. Salmond chose not to rejoin the SNP and instead founded the competing Alba Party.

He has frequently voiced criticisms of those who followed him, including Ms. Sturgeon, Humza Yousaf, and Mr. Swinney.

Upon Ms. Sturgeon's resignation as first minister in 2023, Mr. Salmond commented to Sky News that the SNP lacked a clear successor.

During a discussion at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Mr. Salmond did not dismiss the possibility of mending his relationship with Ms. Sturgeon, noting it would be "unfortunate" if their strained relations continued.

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Although he did not realize his ambition, Mr. Salmond remained steadfast in his conviction that Scotland would thrive as a sovereign nation.

During one of his last discussions on Sky News, he mentioned, "I'm not suggesting that Scotland would become a paradise, but with our resources in oil, gas, and renewable energy, we would be in a strong position."

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