Alex Salmond’s body returns home to Scotland as fleet of flag-flying motorbikes pay tribute to ex-First Minister
The body of former Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond was repatriated on a plane flying from North Macedonia to Aberdeen International Airport on Friday afternoon.
Salmond was speaking at the Academy of National Diplomacy conference in south east Europe just minutes before he suffered a serious heart attack.
In the following days, discussions were held between the UK and Scottish governments over the best way to return his body to Scotland, with long-time friend and political adversary, David Davis calling on the RAF to bring him home.
The return of Salmond’s body on a chartered flight was paid for by a private citizen, Scottish businessman Sir Tom Hunter.
Releasing a short statement, Hunter said: “While he and I disagreed on some of his ambitions, Alex Salmond devoted his life to Scotland and the Scottish people and as such he, and importantly his family, deserved the dignity and privacy of a private return to the home of his birth.”
A guard of honour was arranged by North Macedonia for the departure of Salmond’s body.
Soldiers placed the Scottish saltire over the coffin before marching it into the waiting plane.
Shortly before 2pm, the plane touched down at Aberdeen airport, where Salmond’s wife, Moira, family and members of the Alba Party, including Alba deputy leader, Kenny MacAskill were waiting.
Also watching over the plane’s arrival was Jim Eadie, Alba Party member and 2024 General Election candidate for Rutherglen.
He paid homage to a “colossal figure in Scottish politics”, friend and mentor.
When asked how he thought Salmond would be remembered, he said: “I think there will be many words written and spoken about Alex Salmond and history will make its own assessment of the life and legacy of Alex Salmond.
“He believed in himself – I think that is self evident – he believed in Scotland and he believed in the people he worked with and I think that pushed them to be the best that they could be.”
The Alba Party shared a message on behalf of his family during the week.
It said: “Alex was a formidable politician, an amazing orator, an outstanding intellect, and admired throughout the world.
“He loved meeting people and hearing their stories, and showed incredible kindness to those who needed it. He dedicated his adult life to the cause he believed in – independence for Scotland.
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“His vision and enthusiasm for Scotland and the Yes movement were both inspirational and contagious.
“But to us, first and foremost, he was a devoted and loving husband, a fiercely loyal brother, a proud and thoughtful uncle and a faithful and trusted friend.”
Although he did not secure Scottish independence in 2014, he came closer to achieving it than anyone else.
Salmond was first elected as an MP in 1987 – during a time where Scottish independence was nought but a fringe issue, seen as no threat to the union.
Under his leadership, support for the issue grew to nearly half of Scotland in the polls, and today it stands as an unavoidable ideology within the Scottish political landscape.
Though he could have rejected the idea of devolution in 1999, Salmond flung his support behind it, seeing it as a stepping stone towards his dream of Scottish independence.
Jim Eadie called Salmond a “dominant” and “outstanding figure” in the devolved era of Scottish politics.
“His unfinished business was independence for Scotland,” Eadie said.
“That unfinished business will not be taken forward by the Alba Party, by the wider independence movement and we will work to ensure that – as he said – the dream will never die.”
The cortege and hearse carrying Salmond’s body left Aberdeen Airport shortly after his plane landed.
A procession of YES Bikers – a pro independence movement riding for independence on a fleet of flag-flying motorcycles – led the coffin towards his home in Strichen.
Along the road outside the airport, members of the public had gathered to show their respects, wearing saltires like capes, as they bid farewell.
Following his return home, Salmond’s family shared on social media that arrangements will now be made for his funeral in the coming days.