A group photo including Alex Salmond (eighth from the right) was posted on Facebook yesterday by the Ohrid Cultural Diplomacy Forum 2024 - an event he was attending on Friday.

Image source, Academy for Cultural Diplomacy

Image source, Academy for Cultural Diplomacy

As we reported earlier, Alex Salmond was taken ill after giving a speech in North Macedonia.

He was listed as one of six panellists at the Ohrid Cultural Diplomacy Forum 2024 yesterday.

Some of the other people on the panel included the president of Malta and the president of the Republic of North Macedonia, according to the forum's agenda, external.

It also shows the panel discussion fell under the title of "Young Leaders for International Cooperation, Cultural Understanding & Peace".

The forum was scheduled to run from 10 October to 13 October.

We'll bring you more updates on what Salmond was doing in the country as we get them.

Image source, Getty Images

Alex Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon were the SNP's dream team for years but after losing the Scottish independence referendum vote their relationship became a nightmare.

The Salmond/Sturgeon association spans three decades.

"He believed in me long before I believed in myself," Sturgeon once said.

Alex Salmond was a mentor, ally and friend and for 10 years she was his deputy as they campaigned hard, won elections and pushed towards a shared dream of Scottish independence.

But when Sturgeon took over as SNP leader and Scotland's first minister in 2014 the relationship began to get rocky.

In 2018, allegations of sexual harassment - strongly denied - were made against Salmond by two female civil servants.

The complaints were made after Sturgeon asked for new government policies on sexual harassment to be put in place in the wake of the #MeToo movement. Salmond believed the policy was aimed at him.

The Scottish government eventually admitted it had acted unlawfully. It had to pay Mr Salmond's legal fees of more than £500,000.

Salmond accused officials close to Sturgeon - including her husband Peter Murrell, the SNP's chief executive - of plotting against him. They all denied the claims.

The two most powerful SNP figures of their generation were estranged in a way that would never be resolved.

Image source, Getty Images

Former first minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon has called Alex Salmond a "mentor" despite the "breakdown" of their relationship in recent years.

"I am shocked and sorry to learn of Alex Salmond's death," she says.

"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."

Nick Robinson
Presenter, Radio 4 Today

No politician in modern times has come closer to redrawing the map of their country - securing independence for Scotland or breaking up the United Kingdom, depending on your point of view.

Alex Salmond did it with a mixture of passion, energy, charisma and strategic brilliance. Above all, he did it by proving that Nationalists could be trusted to run their country competently.

Just before he became First Minister in 2007, we had breakfast together in a London hotel over what he insisted was the best haggis available south of the border.

I pointed out that he might get the top job but he wouldn’t get a parliamentary majority in Holyrood.

"Who needs a majority?" he demanded to know, adding: "I will have money, a platform and I will speak for Scotland." He used those assets to great effect.

Journalists loved his company because he could dissect and analyse politics like few others. He was already ready with a pithy and a witty soundbite. He liked to debate and argue, not merely to repeat a line to take.

He was, though, a fearsome man to cross. We clashed at a news conference just before the independence referendum in 2014 when I was BBC political editor and he presented me as a representative of the Westminster classes sent to Scotland to frustrate the public’s desire for independence. It was as uncomfortable as experience as any I’ve been through as a journalist.

He proved to be a divisive figure in his own party too. He was cleared of charges of sexual assault but his behaviour then and since destroyed his relationships not just with his long-term deputy and acolyte Nicola Sturgeon, but many other leading SNP figures as well.

Alex could very easily have given up the fight, given in to his many enemies and disappeared after his court cases and acrimonious split with the SNP leadership. He chose instead to form a new party - Alba - and fought as hard as he ever had to find a new route to the dream that drove him on.

He has died all too early, leaving a huge hole in Scottish politics, and though I never repaired my relationship with him, I will miss him.

He never achieved his goal but no-one came anything like as close, and perhaps they never will.

Image source, Getty Images

In August 2018, four years after he had stood down, the Daily Record newspaper revealed Alex Salmond had been reported to police over sexual assault allegations dating back to his time as first minister.

He denied the claims and said he was taking the Scottish government to court to challenge the complaints procedure which had been activated against him.

A week later he resigned from the SNP after 45 years.

The following year Salmond was charged with 14 offences, including two counts of attempted rape.

However, in 2020, after two weeks of evidence, he was acquitted of every charge.

Despite this the testimony was devastating for his public image.

Salmond's advocate, Gordon Jackson KC, admitted that his client had sometimes behaved badly, calling him "touchy-feely".

Details of inappropriate behaviour included Salmond admitting having a "sleepy cuddle" with one complainer, and what Mr Jackson called "a bit of how's your father" with another - both younger members of his staff, neither of them his wife.

The KC said in his closing speech that the former first minister "could certainly have been a better man".

Scottish Parliament presiding officer Alison Johnstone has been offering her "most sincere condolences" to Salmond's wife Moira, his family and friends at this difficult time.

"Our thoughts are with you. Flags at the Parliament have been lowered as a mark of respect."

The SNP has issued an official tribute on its X account.

Alongside a black-and-white image of Alex Salmond, it reads: "His leadership brought the SNP into the mainstream and the Scottish government.

"He was a titan of the independence movement. Our thoughts are with Moira and his family."

Image source, Getty Images

When Alex Salmond returned to be leader of the SNP in 2004 the prospect of independence seemed very distant. The party was struggling in opposition and there were not many people, even within the party, who truly believed it was possible to achieve.

Within three years he was in government and in 2011 he pulled off a feat which had been designed to be impossible - winning an overall majority at a Scottish parliamentary election.

A triumphant SNP began planning for an independence referendum.

Over the course of the following three years, Salmond was credited with out-smarting the then prime minister David Cameron and his coalition government colleagues, winning crucial battles over the timing and structure of the vote and the wording of the question which would be put to voters.

Rival campaigns were meant to take the debate out of the politicians' hands but in the end it came down to Salmond trading blows with Labour's Alastair Darling in a series of televised debates.

Salmond was strong on rhetoric and vision, projecting an optimistic view of a future Scotland that could do anything it wanted but he was less sure on dealing with Scotland's structural deficit, what currency would be used and how state pensions would be funded and paid.

In the end, the result was a "No" to independence.

Salmond had failed but the fact he had led his side to a 45% share was a remarkable achievement.

Image source, PA Media

Scottish First Minister and SNP leader John Swinney says he is "deeply shocked and saddened" at the "untimely death".

"I extend my deepest condolences to Alex’s wife Moira and to his family," he says.

"Over many years, Alex made an enormous contribution to political life - not just within Scotland, but across the UK and beyond.

"Alex worked tirelessly and fought fearlessly for the country that he loved and for her independence. He took the Scottish National Party from the fringes of Scottish politics into government and led Scotland so close to becoming an Independent country.

"There will be much more opportunity to reflect in the coming days, but today all of our thoughts are with Alex’s family and his many friends right across the political spectrum."

Former Scotland first minister Humza Yousaf has been paying his tributes, praising Salmond for helping to turn the SNP into a "dominant political force".

Mr Yousaf, SNP leader from 2023 to 2024, adds: "Alex and I obviously had our differences in the last few years, but there's no doubt about the enormous contribution he made to Scottish and UK politics.

"As well as helping to transform the SNP into the dominant political force it is today."

Image source, PA Media

Ian Murray, the Secretary of State for Scotland, says it is impossible to overstate the impact Salmond has had on Scotland and on its political landscape over the decades. .

The Labour MP for Edinburgh South says he "served the country he loved as First Minister and will be dearly missed by many. My thoughts are with his family and loved ones at this difficult time."

Nick Eardley
Political correspondent

It’s hard to overstate the impact Alex Salmond had on modern Scotland.

He took the SNP from a small party at Westminster to the dominant force in Scottish politics. He broke the system by delivering a majority at Holyrood in 2011.

He also came close to delivering his dream of Scottish independence in 2014. It didn’t happen, but the fact it has been such a key part of the debate in UK politics is in no small part thanks to Alex Salmond.

There were of course controversies.

He was acquitted of sexual assault in 2020.

His falling out with Nicola Sturgeon is one of the most dramatic political stories I’ve ever covered. It still has a huge impact on nationalist politics in Scotland.

But there is no denying that Scotland is tonight marking the passing of one it’s most influential and consequential politicians.

Image source, EPA

More now from the PM's tribute to Alex Salmond - he says that as First Minister of Scotland Salmond "cared deeply about Scotland’s heritage, history, and culture, as well as the communities he represented as MP and MSP over many years of service.

“My thoughts are with those who knew him, his family, and his loved ones. On behalf of the UK government, I offer them our condolences today.”

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has paid tribute to Alex Salmond, calling him a "monumental figure of Scottish and UK politics" who "leaves behind a lasting legacy".

British journalist and broadcaster Andrew Neil has been reflecting on the news of Alex Salmond's death and recalling a recent meeting with him.

"I had lunch with him in London only three weeks ago - an epic lunch as it transpired, as was fitting with Alex - and he was in fine form," he wrote in a post on X.

"Full of plans and plots. He even paid! His upbeat mood then make this all the more surprising and sad.

"He and I could not have been more different in terms of Scotland’s position in the UK but we had a mutual respect and he knew I always regarded him as the most accomplished and significant Scottish politician of modern times.

"He was also the best of company. To be with him was always a joy. I will miss him hugely. So will Scotland.

"My condolences to his wonderful wife."

Image source, Reuters

Conservative leader Rishi Sunak has been sharing a tribute to Alex Salmond on X.

He said: "Alex Salmond was a huge figure in our politics. While I disagreed with him on the constitutional question, there was no denying his skill in debate or his passion for politics. May he rest in peace."

Salmond's reputation as a political heavyweight ensured he was a high-profile politician across the UK long before he won Holyrood's top jo as First Minister.

Former Conservative cabinet member Michael Portillo once described him as the only Scottish politician to become well known in England and internationally while spending most of his career in Scottish politics.

"I regard him as the outstanding politician not to have come out of Scotland, but to have remained in Scotland," he said.

Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar has tweeted his condolences after the death.

Paying tribute, he said: "The sad news of Alex Salmond's passing today will come as a shock to all who knew him in Scotland, across the UK and beyond.

"Our thoughts are with his family and friends at this difficult time and on behalf of Scottish Labour I offer our sincere condolences to all who will be mourning his loss.

"Alex was a central figure in politics for over three decades and his contribution to the Scottish political landscape can not be overstated.

"It is right that we recognise Alex's service to our country as First Minister and to the communities he represented as both MP and MSP."

We are learning that the former MP and MSP was taken ill after giving a speech in North Macedonia.