Alex Salmond
Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond (/ˈsæmənd/ SAM-ənd; 31 December 1954 – 12 October 2024) was a Scottish politician, economist and television host. He was the First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014. He was also the Leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 2004 to 2014. He was an important figure in the Scottish independence movement.
Alex Salmond | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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First Minister of Scotland | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 17 May 2007 – 18 November 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Monarch | Elizabeth II | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy | Nicola Sturgeon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Jack McConnell | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Nicola Sturgeon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leader of the Alba Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 26 March 2021 – 12 October 2024 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy | Kenny MacAskill | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
UK Parliament Leader | Neale Hanvey | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Laurie Flynn | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leader of the Scottish National Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 3 September 2004 – 14 November 2014 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy | Nicola Sturgeon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | John Swinney | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Nicola Sturgeon | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 22 September 1990 – 26 September 2000 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy | Alasdair Morgan Jim Sillars Allan Macartney John Swinney | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Gordon Wilson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | John Swinney | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Deputy Leader of the Scottish National Party | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
In office 26 September 1987 – 22 September 1990 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Leader | Gordon Wilson | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Preceded by | Margaret Ewing | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Succeeded by | Alasdair Morgan | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Personal details | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Born | Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond 31 December 1954 Linlithgow, Scotland | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Died | 12 October 2024 Ohrid, North Macedonia | (aged 69)||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cause of death | Heart attack | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Political party | Alba Party (2021–2024) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Other political affiliations |
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Spouse(s) |
Moira McGlashan (m. 1981) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Education | Edinburgh College of Commerce University of St Andrews | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Cabinet | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Early life
changeSalmond was born in Linlithgow, Scotland. He studied at the University of St Andrews. He became an economist at the Royal Bank of Scotland. In 1981, he married Moira McGlashan.
Political career
changeSalmond became a Member of Parliament (MP) for the constituency of Banff and Buchan at the 1987 General Election. In 1990, Alex Salmond became the leader of the Scottish National Party. He became a Member of the Scottish Parliament (MSP) for Banff and Buchan at the 1999 Scottish Parliament Election and resigned as SNP leader in 2000.
Salmond became the party leader again in 2004 and stood in the 2007 Scottish Parliament election for the constituency of Gordon. At this election, the SNP received the highest number of seats and the highest share of the vote in Scotland, but did not have enough seats to form a majority government. The SNP went on to form a minority government with Alex Salmond becoming First Minister.
Alex Salmond was against the 2003 invasion of Iraq and was one of several MPs who called for Prime Minister Tony Blair to be impeached. At the 2010 General Election, Alex Salmond stood down as a Member of Parliament but argued against the BBC's decision not to allow the SNP on the televised Prime Ministerial Debates.
On 19 September 2014, following the results of the independence referendum which confirmed a majority of the Scottish people had voted to remain as part of the United Kingdom, Salmond announced that he would be resigning as First Minister in November 2014. Salmond formally resigned as First Minister on 18 November 2014, with his deputy, Nicola Sturgeon taking office two days later.
Death
changeSalmond died from a heart attack on 12 October 2024 after delivering a speech in Ohrid, North Macedonia at the age of 69.[2][3]
References
change- ↑ "Alex Salmond". Desert Island Discs. 21 January 2011. BBC Radio 4. Archived from the original on 1 February 2017. Retrieved 11 November 2017.
- ↑ Andrews, Kieran (2024-10-12). "Alex Salmond, former first minister of Scotland, dies aged 69". www.thetimes.com. Retrieved 2024-10-12.
- ↑ "Alex Salmond's cause of death confirmed as heart attack, Alba Party says". Sky News. Retrieved 15 October 2024.
Other websites
change- Alex Salmond on IMDb
- Template:SP-MSP
- First Minister (Scotland.gov.uk)
- Official biography (www.snp.org)
- Guardian profile, Electoral history and profile (guardian.co.uk)
- TheyWorkForYou.com
- Voting Record — Alex Salmond MP, Banff & Buchan (10525) (The Public Whip)
- Appearances on C-SPAN