Alex Salmond’s public memorial service is to be held in Edinburgh on St Andrew’s Day. The event on November 30 will take place at St Giles’ Cathedral – where the Queen lay in rest for 24 hours after her death in 2022.
Salmond’s family said the service would allow people to say goodbye to the former first minister and reflect on his life and achievements. The 69-year-old died suddenly following a heart attack in North Macedonia last month. He was later laid to rest near his home in Aberdeenshire.
A family spokesman told The Sunday Times: “Friends of Alex, who knew and worked with him for many years, are providing support at the family’s request in helping to organise a fitting memorial service for the former first minister. It will be an occasion for people to say farewell to Alex and reflect on his life and achievements.”
First Minister John Swinney is expected to attend, alongside representatives of the main political parties in Scotland. The Sunday Times reported that representatives from North Macedonia will also be invited.
Nicola Sturgeon, Salmond’s successor as first minister, is not expected to attend. Despite previously being very close, the pair had a big fall-out over the handling of sexual misconduct allegations against Salmond.
Swinney previously led tributes to Salmond in Holyrood. He said the former first minister “left an indelible mark on Scotland and on Scottish and United Kingdom politics and public life”. A private funeral service was held at Strichen Parish Church in Aberdeenshire last month.
Several political figures were among the mourners. These included acting Alba leader Kenny MacAskill, former Commons speaker John Bercow and Alba Party chairwoman Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh. Former SNP MPs Jim Sillars and Joanna Cherry also attended, as did current SNP MSPs Fergus Ewing and Annabelle Ewing.
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