Tributes to former Scottish FM Alex Salmond at cathedral service

Former First Minister Alex Salmond has been hailed as a “political genius” at his memorial service in Edinburgh.

High-profile figures including First Minister John Swinney and former prime minister Gordon Brown gathered at Edinburgh’s St Giles’ Cathedral.

Salmond, 69, died of a heart attack while attending a conference in North Macedonia on 12 October.

The St Andrew’s Day service included tributes from political allies and opponents as well as musical performances by Dougie MacLean and The Proclaimers.

Salmond was buried after a private funeral service on 29 October in the village of Strichen in Aberdeenshire, where he had lived for many years with his wife, Moira.

The memorial event was invitation only, with about 500 people attending.

Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes went to the service, as did Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, Labour leader Anas Sarwar and Holyrood Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone.

Actor Elaine C Smith, football pundit Michael Stewart and businessman Jim McColl were among the other guests.

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, who had a public fallout with Salmond in the years after she succeeded her ex-mentor as SNP leader, did not attend.

She was at the funeral of comedian Janey Godley in Glasgow on Saturday morning, but said her thoughts were with Salmond’s family and friends

She described it as “a very sad day for them but one that I hope will allow them to remember Alec in the way they want to”.

Salmond’s service was led by the Rev Dr George Whyte, the former Principal Clerk of the General Assembly of the Church of Scotland.

Mr Whyte said that the ex-first minister’s life had “challenged the status quo”, adding: “He called people to a cause in which he believed and for which he would endure the slings and the arrows.”

Salmond’s niece Christine Hendry and his close friends and political allies Duncan Hamilton KC and Kenny MacAskill shared their memories of the former SNP leader.

Ms Hendry described her uncle as a “political giant” and “dearly loved” family member.

Kenny MacAskill called him a “political genius”, while Mr Hamilton recalled him as a “leader of courage, vision and intelligence”.

Sir David Davis, the Conservative MP who was a close friend of Salmond’s, read a passage from John 14: “Do not let your hearts be troubled”.

Dougie MacLean sang Caledonia, while The Proclaimers expressed their “eternal gratitude” to Salmond before performing Cap in Hand, with the lyrics: “I can’t understand why we let someone else rule our land, cap in hand.”