? BREAKING: Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland, has died aged 69. He collapsed after delivering a speech in North Macedonia https://t.co/Z4L8Tjt3uU

— The Times and The Sunday Times (@thetimes) October 12, 2024

BREAK: Alex Salmond has died aged 69 after delivering a speech in North Macedonia. Story to follow

— Kieran Andrews (@KieranPAndrews) October 12, 2024

I would place Alex Salmond in the top five consequential politicians of my lifetime, he transformed Scottish Nationalism from a minor past time to a near majority in Scotland.

It is often forgotten that Scottish devolution was set up to kill Scottish nationalism stone dead and also to ensure no party won a majority at Holyrood, both allusions he smashed in 2007 and 2011 respectively.

Alex Salmond was a regular reader of PB and once quoted Mike Smithson and PB in the House of Commons, I met him once and he was really engaging company

My thoughts are with his family and friends at this sad time.

TSE