Alex Salmond was remembered at his funeral as an “outstanding” politician and “dear friend”. UK news

Alex Salmond was remembered not only as the political leader who “brought Scotland so close to its dreams of independence” but also as a “dear friend”.

Tributes were paid to the former First Minister of Scotland at his private funeral at Strichen Parish Church in Aberdeenshire on Tuesday.

Mourners included Salmond’s protégé, Alba party leader Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, and former Speaker of the House of Commons John Bercow.

MSP Fergus Ewing, who was asked to speak at the service, was also present along with sister and fellow SNP MSP Annabelle Ewing.

Mr Salmond died of a heart attack earlier this month at the age of 69 during a conference trip to a resort on Lake Ohrid in North Macedonia.

The late party leader Alba had previously delivered a speech before collapsing in the crowded hall during lunch.

In a speech at the service, Alba’s acting leader, Kenny MacAskill, hailed his late friend as “a giant of a man, the leader of our country, the leader of our movement” and went on to describe him as “an inspiration, a political genius, an incomparable orator, debater and communicator.”

Mr Salmond he served as First Minister from 2007 to 2014 and was a leader SNP twice, in 1990–2000 and 2004–2014.

He resigned from both posts following the result of the 2014 Scottish independence referendum and was replaced by former friend Nicola Sturgeon.

Salmond then founded the Alba Party in 2021, continuing his campaign for independence.

MacAskill, who was justice secretary in Salmond’s government, said he was “a prominent political figure in Scotland not only of his generation but also of generations past and probably future ones”.

MacAskill added: “The legacy he left behind is pervasive. From roads and bridges to rights like free prescriptions and no tuition fees.”

Mr Salmond’s niece, Christina Hendry, told the service that since his death “we have felt the sadness of the nation and beyond”.

She added: “Everyone in this room feels the loss differently.

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

Salmond led the SNP from an opposition party to government in Scotland with a narrow victory over Labor in the 2007 Holyrood election.

After his SNP won an unprecedented overall majority in the Scottish Parliament in 2011, then-Prime Minister David Cameron later agreed to his demands for an independence referendum.

While Scots voted to remain in the UK in the 2014 vote, MacAskill remembered Salmond as “a man who, through his life’s efforts, restored the pride of our nation and brought us very close to his dream of independence”.

Speaking about Salmond, who was left behind by his wife Moira, he added: “Politics was not a career for him, even if he excelled in his art. He was committed to Scotland and independence, rejecting offers to join other parties.

“But he rejected them all.”

MacAskill said Salmond “had a dream of what Scotland could be and a strategy to get there”, as he recalled, “building the party that went on to take office and that almost won the referendum”.

He went on to say that under Salmond the SNP had achieved “unprecedented electoral success in 2011” and its majority at Holyrood was “something unlikely to ever be repeated”.

After the funeral, led by the Reverend Ian McEwan, bagpiper Fergus Mutch, who previously worked for Mr Salmond, led a procession to Strichen Cemetery for a private service.

A public memorial is expected to be held at a later date.

Meanwhile, a book of condolence has been opened in the Scottish Parliament where visitors can leave messages which will be sent to Mr Salmond’s family.

Tributes will also be paid to Mr Salmond at Holyrood on Wednesday, when an expression of condolence is due to be presented.