Former UK prime minister Tony Blair on Sunday joined King Charles III among a host of British personalities to pay tribute to former Scotland figurehead Alex Salmond after his sudden death at the age of 69. "Whatever our disagreements he was a huge figure in Scottish and UK politics and was clearly dedicated to Scotland and its people." Salmond, a figurehead of the independence movement and leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) during two 10-year spells, died on Saturday whilst in North Macedonia. Salmond, who led Scotland between 2007 and 2014, was taken ill after giving a speech, UK media reported. King Charles III said late Saturday that he was "greatly saddened" by Salmond's death, adding that "his devotion to Scotland drove his decades of public service."

Source: The Times October 13, 2024 10:44 UTC