Alex Salmond dead: Nicola Sturgeon pays tribute to former SNP mentor after his sudden death aged 69

NICOLA Sturgeon has paid tribute to her former close ally Alex Salmond after her predecessor as First Minister died on Saturday.

Ms Sturgeon, who was deputy First Minister to Mr Salmond between 2007 and 2014, said she was “shocked and sorry”.

In a statement, she said: “Obviously, I cannot pretend that the events of the past few years which led to the breakdown of our relationship did not happen, and it would not be right for me to try.

“However, it remains the fact that for many years Alex was an incredibly significant figure in my life. He was my mentor, and for more than a decade we formed one of the most successful partnerships in UK politics.

“Alex modernised the SNP and led us into government for the first time, becoming Scotland’s fourth First Minister and paving the way for the 2014 referendum which took Scotland to the brink of independence.

“He will be remembered for all of that. My thoughts are with Moira, his wider family and his friends.”

The pair were close political allies for several decades but had a major falling out after allegations of sexual harassment were made against Mr Salmond in 2018.

In a two-part BBC documentary released just last month, Mr Salmond said he “seriously” doubted whether he would ever be on speaking terms again with Ms Sturgeon.

He told the broadcaster “A big regret that Nicola and I are no longer on speaking terms, and I seriously doubt if that’s going to improve.

“Now, that’s a great pity because I did indicate that you shouldn’t say anything’s for ever, but that’s the way it looks and that’s just the way it’s going to be.”

Also discussing their relationship in the documentary, Ms Sturgeon said: “One of the hardest things about the breakdown between me and Alex is the fact that so many of the best moments of my life, he is so integral to, and it’s hard now to look back on them with just unallowed pleasure and joy.”

Following its release, Mr Salmond would go on to blast the documentary, describing it as being “venomous and biased”.

He urged independence supports against trusting the BBC after claims were made in the documentary that he “abused his power” while in office.

Former First Minister Humza Yousaf told the programme: “In 99 per cent of the meetings you are, on any given day, the most powerful person in that room.

“You can choose to use that power appropriately or you can choose to abuse it. On too many occasions, given the behaviour that Alex has already admitted, there were too many instances of that abuse of power.”

Linda Fabiani, who served as culture secretary under Mr Salmond between 2007 and 2009, also said he would “just let rip” at those who displeased him.

But, in a sharp rebuke to the documentary, Mr Salmond said: “When I was invited to take part in a ‘blue chip’ history of the rise of the SNP by Firecrest Films for the BBC, I should have smelled a rat immediately, instead of believing the assurances that they willingly gave, that they were intent on making serious programming.”

Speaking about their fractured relationship during an Edinburgh Festival Fringe event in 2023, Ms Sturgeon appeared to rule out any prospect of reconciliation.

She told Iain Dale at the event: “I was very close to Alex for a long, long time. We achieved great things together and I’ll always be proud of that.

“I’m not trying to rewrite history here but over recent years he has revealed himself to be somebody that I don’t want to have in my life, I don’t particularly want to have a relationship with.

“We don’t have long on this planet, we’ve got a limited amount of time to spend with people. I want to spend the time I have with people who make me happy and who I like.”