Alex Salmond hailed at funeral as Scotland's 'outstanding political figure' and a 'giant of a man'

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Alex Salmond has been hailed at his funeral as an "outstanding" politician who led Scotland close to achieving independence.

Tributes were paid to the 69-year-old at a Church of Scotland service today following his sudden death in North Macedonia earlier this month.

Mourners at the private commemoration in the Aberdeenshire village of Strichen heard a eulogy from Kenny MacAskill, a close friend and key politcal ally of Salmond.

He told a church congregation the former first minister was "a giant of a man, the leader of our country, the leader of our movement."

MacAskill continued: "An inspiration, a political genius, an orator, debater and communicator without parallel. The outstanding political figure in Scotland not just of his generation but for generations past and likely for generations to come.

"A man who through his lifetime’s efforts restored pride in our nation and took us so close to his dream of independence. At ease on any national or international stage, whether with monarchs or political leaders, business or commerce, media or other professions. Never overawed and more often outshining all.

"At the same time in his element amongst his 'ain folk' in Scotland’s cities, towns and villages. Chatting, joking, weaving his way through crowds, making folk smile and having fun. His campaigning style infectious, even if hugely frustrating for those managing the event or scheduling his diary.

"A very public figure, yet fiercely protective of his private life and Moira and the family."

A second eulogy was read by Salmond's niece, Christina Hendry. She said: "In the past two weeks we have felt the grief of a nation, and beyond. But for everyone in this room we have felt the loss differently. Uncle Alex was an important person to many, but to us he was a husband, a brother, an uncle, a colleague and a dear friend."

Salmond took the SNP from a party of opposition into government in Scotland with a narrow victory over Labour in the 2007 Holyrood election.

After his SNP won an unprecedented overall majority in the Scottish Parliament in 2011, then prime minister David Cameron agreed to its demands for an independence referendum.

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

Speaking about Salmond, who is survived by his wife Moira, he added: “Politics wasn’t a career for him even if he excelled in its arts. He was committed to Scotland and independence, spurning overtures to join other parties.

“But he rejected them all.”

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He said the former first minister “had a dream of what Scotland could be, and a strategy to achieve it”, as he recalled him “building a party which then took office, and which so nearly won the referendum”.

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