POLITICIANS across the region have paid tribute to former First Minister Alex Salmond.
The Alba Party founder and ex-SNP leader and first minister died of a heart attack while attending a conference in Ohrid, North Macedonia, on Saturday.
This week, Dumfries and Galloway’s MPs and MSPs from all political parties have paid their respects to the former leader.
SNP MSP Emma Harper recalled being on the independence campaign trail with Salmond in 2014 when he came to Dumfries. She said: “I was shocked to hear of the untimely death of our former First Minister Alex Salmond and I extend my deepest condolences to Alex’s wife Moira and to his family.
“I remember distinctly during the independence campaign of summer 2014 the hope, optimism and joy everyone felt when Alex arrived in Dumfries.
“Due to the sheer number of activists who came on that beautiful day of sunshine, it took Alex 45 minutes to cross the Devorgilla bridge.
“Everyone was so positive as they shook hands, took selfies and welcomed the First Minister’s arrival to our toon.”
Long-serving MP for Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale, Tweeddale, David Mundell shared his condolences in the House of Commons earlier this week, describing the Mr Salmond as a ‘formidable’ politician.
He said: “We were not friends; we had a professional relationship, I would say.
“Sometimes it was cordial, sometimes it was less so, because we disagreed on some pretty fundamental issues.
“I always respected Alex as one of the most formidable and, indeed, ruthless political operators of our generation – I think he would welcome that epitaph.
“Alex was skilled debater, and that was very often demonstrated in this Chamber, despite his expressed wish to leave it. He had an authenticity and a common touch that are so often absent from modern politics. That was always very evident when one saw him with his constituents.”
Paying a tribute online, Galloway and West MSP Finlay Carson added: “It’s always a shock when one of the heavyweights in public life passes. Alex Salmond was undoubtedly one of those people.
“While politically we had little in common, he will long be recognised as changing Scottish politics forever. My condolences to his family and friends.”
