Farewell to Mr Scotland

PM leads tributes after sudden death of SNP pioneer

- MIKEY SMITH, HANNAH TODD

ALEX Salmond, Scotland's former First Minister and driving force behind the independence movement, has died suddenly at 69.

He was reportedly taken ill after making a speech at an international conference in North Macedonia. It is thought he suffered a heart attack.

The former MP and MSP led the Scottish National Party for two decades and Scotland from 2007 to 2014, when a referendum saw 55% of the nation reject independence.