Alex Salmond, former Scottish First Minister who sought Scotland's independence, dies at 69

Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland who for decades championed Scotland's independence from the U.K., has died. He was 69.

U.K. Prime Minister Keir Starmer paid tribute to Salmond, calling him a "monumental figure" of both Scottish and British politics.

"He leaves behind a lasting legacy," Starmer said in a statement shared on X. "As first minister of Scotland, he cared deeply about Scotland's heritage, history and culture, as well as the communities he represented."