Last picture of ex-First Minister of Scotland Alex Salmond before he collapsed & died aged 69 after delivering a speech

WITHOUT Alex Salmond, a Scottish independence vote was just a dream.

I never agreed with him, of course, but you had to recognise he was someone of great skill.

He used his political talents to turn a wish into a serious option that dominated British politics for years.

He was absolutely riveted to the idea of Scottish independence. All the energy and organisation was his.

We were opponents but I got to know him reasonably well. But even if you knew him, he wouldn’t give you an inch in a debate.

He was supremely skilled, a brilliant speaker and a formidable opponent.

When he lost the referendum he was shattered because he staked everything on it and lost.

It was his purpose. It was the first and last thing he thought about.

But, believe it or not, he absolutely loved the House of Commons.

After the referendum, he came back to Parliament.

He told me that although he always wanted to leave the Union, he’d missed the unique nature of the chamber.

In his heyday he was a remarkable politician. I was very sorry to hear of his untimely passing.

1954: Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond is born on December 31, 1954, in Linlithgow.

1973: Joins the SNP as a teenager. He attends the University of St Andrews where he studies economics and medieval history.

1978: Joins the civil service as an assistant economist at the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries for Scotland – part of the now defunct Scottish Office.

1980: Moves to work at the Royal Bank of Scotland as an economist.

1982: Expelled from the SNP after being a key part of the 79 Group – a faction within the SNP pushing for the party to take a more active left-wing stance. His expulsion lasts just one month.

1987: Elected as MP for the Banff and Buchan as one of three SNP MPs returned to Westminster. Months later becomes SNP deputy leader.

1990: Succeeds Gordon Wilson as SNP leader.

1997: Under his leadership, the SNP increases its MPs from four to six at the general election. He backs the campaign for a devolved Scottish Parliament.

1999: Becomes MSP for Banff and Buchan.

2000: Makes shock announcement that he is standing down as SNP leader. He is succeeded by John Swinney.

2001: Resigns his seat in the Scottish Parliament to focus on leading the SNP at Westminster.

2004: Takes over for his second stint as SNP leader after John Swinney stands down. He goes on to hold the job for the next decade.

2007: Elected as First Minister of Scotland after leading the SNP to victory at the Scottish Parliament election in 2007.

2012: Secures agreement with Prime Minister David Cameron for a Scottish independence referendum, to be held in 2014.

2014: Spearheads the independence campaign, raising support to 45 per cent – falling short of his goal to split from the UK. Following the referendum, he resigns as First Minister.

2015: Returns to Westminster as MP for Gordon. He holds the job for two years before losing his seat at the snap election called by Theresa May.

2018: Quits the SNP after allegations of sexual misconduct are made against him. He has a major falling out with Nicola Sturgeon in the aftermath, including how a probe into him is handled by the Scottish Government.

2020: At the High Court in Edinburgh, he is found not guilty on 12 sexual assault charges against him, while another is found not proven.

2021: Founds new independence party Alba. Kenny MacAskill and Neale Hanvey defect to Alba, giving the party their first elected parliamentarians.

2023: Ash Regan defects to Alba, giving the party its first MSP at Holyrood

By Lewis Mckenzie, Political Reporter

Nicola Sturgeon, who was deputy First Minister to Salmond between 2007 and 2014, said she was “shocked and saddened”.

On X, formerly known as Twitter, she wrote: “Obviously, I cannot pretend that the events of the past few years which led to the breakdown of our relationship did not happen, and it would not be right for me to try.

“However, it remains the fact that for many years Alex was an incredibly significant figure in my life. He was my mentor, and for more than a decade we formed one of the most successful partnerships in UK politics.

“Alex modernised the SNP and led us into government for the first time, becoming Scotland’s fourth First Minister and paving the way for the 2014 referendum which took Scotland to the brink of independence.

“He will be remembered for all of that. My thoughts are with Moira, his wider family and his friends.”

The pair were close political allies for several decades but had a major falling out after allegations of sexual harassment were made against Mr Salmond in 2018.

In a two-part BBC documentary released just last month, Salmond said he “seriously” doubted whether he would ever be on speaking terms again with Sturgeon.

He told the broadcaster “A big regret that Nicola and I are no longer on speaking terms, and I seriously doubt if that’s going to improve.

“Now, that’s a great pity because I did indicate that you shouldn’t say anything’s for ever, but that’s the way it looks and that’s just the way it’s going to be.”

Also discussing their relationship in the documentary, Sturgeon said: “One of the hardest things about the breakdown between me and Alex is the fact that so many of the best moments of my life, he is so integral to, and it’s hard now to look back on them with just unallowed pleasure and joy.”