Alex Salmond, who has died aged 69, came closer to bringing an end to the United Kingdom than any other figure in its long history. The Jacobite rebellions of 1715 and 1745 were the last gasps of a sad and hopeless Stewart dynasty. After that, Scotland became a key player in the Empire until the 1980s deindustrialisation of the Thatcher years coincided with oil flowing from Scottish waters. The grinding, soul-destroying, decimation of Scotland’s industrial towns saw thousands question the value of the union with England. The deal that was meant to see Scotland share in the wealth of the UK and the Empire seemed to be over, but a better world was possible, argued the SNP. “It’s Scotland’s Oil” they cried and who better to be a standard bearer for the cause but one-time Royal Bank of Scotland oil economist Alex Salmond?
Salmond was one of a handful of SNP figures in the 70s and 80s who gave purpose and direction to a sleepy party of lots of romance but little strategic direction or organisational skill. Not always a popular figure in his own party (he was once thrown out) his tenacity, intellectual grasp, quick mind and media-savvy tactics made him a national figure. He brought his party to power at Holyrood and came within 10% of seeing his dream of an independent Scotland come to pass. His legacy is unquestionably that the independence movement in Scotland is a powerful force in Scottish and UK politics. The SNP’s current fortunes may be at a low ebb, but polling consistently shows the young favour independence by big margins. Without Alex Salmond in Scottish public life, that position today would have been unlikely.
Long before devolution gave the SNP the platform to create a political movement that dominated Scotland for 20 years, Alex Salmond was making waves when in 1987 he won the traditionally Conservative seat of Banff and Buchan. A socially conservative fishing and farming constituency north of Aberdeen, Banff and Buchan showed Salmon’s ability to win over Scotland’s middle and small business classes. His former seat, now called Gordon and Buchan, fell to the Scottish Conservatives in the general election this year.
Born in the historic Scottish town of Linlithgow, Alex Salmond was a product of a lower middle-class home and a state school education at Linlithgow Academy. It was then on to St Andrews University, Scotland’s oldest, where he graduated MA(Hons) in economics and medieval history. A brief stint as a civil servant at the Scottish Office led on to the world of banking before he became the towering figure of Scottish politics.
Ten years ago, in September 2014, Scotland stood on the edge of a new world. In the days before the independence referendum Salmond believed his cause would win. He must have imagined standing on some historic spot announcing Scotland’s arrival on the world stage, a sovereign state once again. The union prevailed. Salmond’s time at the top was over. His stepping aside from being First Minister and the leader of the SNP was done quickly and with good grace.
The years after the 2014 referendum were turbulent and hard for Alex Salmond. He was a man without a job, without the trappings of government or party power. He was then to face sexual assault charges in a trial that put a global spotlight on Scotland. He walked away a free man. But the fall out saw the end of his long personal and political friendship with Nicola Sturgeon. The dream team of the Scottish independence movement was torn apart. The two were unreconciled at Salmond’s death.
Salmond later founded the Alba party. It was very much a fringe interest, though recent polls have pushed it higher up public approval ratings. Without the charismatic Salmond its future must be in doubt.
Alex Salmond was a great Scot, whether you believe in independence or union. He stood unequivocally for Scotland’s interests and Scotland’s people. He made countless thousands of Scots believe in their country and its potential. His time in public life saw Scots display greater self-confidence and self-belief. Today, almost two thirds of Scots say they are Scottish not British.
One thing should not be forgotten about Alex Salmond. He was a true democrat. He won by debate and civil argument. He believed peaceful politics was the only way to fight for independence. When he lost, he lost with grace. He was full of flaws and many misjudgments, but he left Scotland arguably a better place than the one he was born into. He did much he could be proud of, but perhaps he had no greater legacy than free university education. He was the lad o pairts who took his brain to St Andrews and revolutionised the dry, cronyist, often misogynist, frequently racist, sometimes sectarian, too often complacent world of Scottish politics. He helped Scotland become as more liberal, more tolerant, more internationalist place. He shifted the dial to help mold a more inclusive Scotland. For that alone, he deserves our gratitude,
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