Scotland’s First Minister, John Swinney, has led a wave of tributes to former SNP leader Alex Salmond, describing him as a “very significant figure” in both Scottish and UK politics. Appearing on several media outlets this morning, Swinney highlighted Salmond’s transformative role in shaping the modern Scottish independence movement.
Speaking to the BBC’s Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg, Swinney said Salmond “inspired a generation of people to believe in Scottish independence” and praised his efforts in bringing the Scottish National Party (SNP) from the fringes to the heart of Scottish government. “Alec left a fundamental footprint on Scottish politics,” he added, noting that much of the SNP’s success was built on Salmond’s “sense of drive.”
Swinney, who succeeded Salmond as party leader between 2000 and 2004, recalled their working relationship during Salmond’s second tenure as leader when the SNP came to power at Holyrood in 2007. He was appointed finance secretary, a role in which he said Salmond trusted him to manage Scotland’s public finances while leading the government’s strategic direction. “That was very much the nature of the relationship—it was a working relationship focused on serving the people of Scotland,” Swinney said.
Reflecting on Salmond’s legacy, Swinney pointed out that the former SNP leader played a pivotal role in transforming Scottish independence from a “peripheral idea to an idea that is central to the politics of Scotland.”
David Cameron Pays Tribute
Former UK Prime Minister David Cameron also paid tribute to Salmond, acknowledging their many political disagreements but recognising his significant impact on Scottish and British politics. Cameron, who served as PM from 2010 to 2016, said Salmond was “hugely passionate about the causes he championed” and praised his “enormous charisma and genuine conviction.”
Cameron, who faced Salmond during the lead-up to the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, admitted that Salmond had outmaneuvered him during negotiations, securing the timing and wording of the vote to his advantage. “He might have had his faults, but he was as sharp as a button with a strategic mind,” Cameron remarked, adding that Salmond’s unexpected passing was a significant loss.
In a post on social media platform X, Cameron reflected on their interactions, saying, “I once said you had to count your fingers on the way out of a meeting with Alex! He has been taken far too young; my thoughts and prayers are with Alex’s family.”
