Politics / Local tributes paid to ex-first minister Alex Salmond
TRIBUTES have been paid locally to former Scottish first minister Alex Salmond, who died at the weekend aged 69.
The ex-SNP leader became ill on Saturday while attending a conference in North Macedonia.
Local SNP councillor Robbie McGregor said it was “desperate news” and gave his condolences with Salmond’s family and friends.
Independent North Isles councillor Ryan Thomson, who is the secretary of the local SNP branch, said Salmond’s “impact on Scottish politics was significant, and he will be remembered for his substantial contribution to politics and the Scottish independence movement”.
Conservative Highlands and Islands MSP Jamie Halcro Johnston said: “He was a significant figure at both Holyrood and at Westminster for decades, and while I agreed with little of his politics, there is no doubting his commitment to the causes and constituents he served, nor of the influence he has had on Scottish political life.”
Salmond was Scottish first minister between 2007 and 2014.
During this time he made what was called the ‘Lerwick declaration’ while in Shetland in 2013, with Salmond saying island communities should have a “maximum degree of local decision making”.
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