It is hard to believe that I will no longer wake up on Monday mornings to the sound of Alex Salmond on the phone, either berating me for my latest offence against journalism or telling me what I should be saying about the most recent political scandal. The former SNP leader and First Minister of Scotland was of the old school: combative and relentless, always on the phone, never stopping, never at rest, a 24/7 politician. We always said he would never cease promoting the cause of Scottish independence while he still had breath in his body. He didn’t. Alex Salmond died in North Macedonia, shortly after giving a speech.
He was the most astute, gifted, and energetic politician of his generation
The Scottish political world is in genuine shock. Alex Salmond was never the healthiest of politicians – he was massively overweight for a start. But his energy seemed to belie his body image.
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