Alex Salmond was ‘one of the most dangerous opponents’
Alex Salmond was “one of the most dangerous opponents in debate” according to far north MP Jamie Stone, who was among those paying tribute to the late former first minister.
Mr Salmond, who died on Saturday while at an event in North Macedonia, was at university with Mr Stone.
The former SNP heavyweight went on to form his own Alba party, and he was praised this week for his ability as a politician and his historical stature.
It took him just 25 years to come as close as anyone has in almost 270 years to fundamental constitutional change in the UK – from entering Westminster in 1987 until he formally secured an independence referendum in 2012.
So when he died of a heart attack many recalled that for 50 of those years he fought and campaigned for Scottish independence with a skill no one mastered before or since.
One of his opponents was Liberal Democrat MP Jamie Stone, who represents Caithness, Sutherland and Easter Ross.
“Having known Salmond since student days, I suppose that I have known him as long as anyone,” said Mr Stone. “And from day one I could see his formidable talent. He was not at all like the rest of us who were members of the Students Representative Council.
“No bonhomie, no wee small hours visits to the baker’s back door to buy hot fresh bread after the meetings were over. He was deadly serious and one of the most dangerous opponents in debate that I have ever known.”
He added: “To his last breath, independence was the goal.”
One of those who knew him best was Fergus Ewing, the Inverness and Nairn MSP, who paid tribute to his friend and colleague by saying: “I will miss him – and miss him more than any words have the ability to convey”.
Mr Ewing said he was “without question, the towering figure and greatest leader in the history of the independence movement”.
The SNP’s Caithness, Sutherland and Ross MSP Maree Todd said: “Alex Salmond will be remembered as a giant of the independence movement, a champion of devolution, and a devoted public servant.
“He played a central role in transforming the SNP from a fringe party into the political force it is today, helping to significantly advance the cause of independence, which now has the support of half the country.
“His own self-belief served as a model for Scotland and it helped develop our nation’s confidence that we can govern ourselves.
“It’s particularly sad that he was far from his beloved Scotland when he passed. Having experienced the loss of a family member abroad, I understand how hard this is for his family. My thoughts are with them, as well as his friends and colleagues.”
Alastair Campbell posted a picture online with a statement: “Meeting Alex Salmond in Aberdeen 2014 when he asked me to be part of a transition team to independence.
“That it didn’t happen in his lifetime was not for the lack of his trying and while the later years of his life were marred by scandal and division he was a historic figure.”