Former Scotland first minister and current Alba Party leader Alex Salmond has died after reportedly being taken ill while giving a speech in North Macedonia. Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar saying he was “a central figure in politics for over three decades”.

The former SNP and current Alba Party leader died on Saturday afternoon from a suspected heart attack in North Macedonia.

The body of former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond has arrived in Scotland after being transferred from North Macedonia.

Alex Salmond served as first minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014 and was leader of the Scottish National Party on two occasions.

Alex Salmond’s body will be returned from North Macedonia on a chartered plane paid for by an unnamed private individual.

Mr Salmond used his mandate as first minister to hold a 2014 referendum on Scottish independence - resigning the day after the "Yes Scotland" campaign was defeated.

Mr Salmond's wife Moira was sat inside a funeral car during the short ceremony at the airport. A small group of people with saltire flags had gathered near the terminal building ahead of the flight's arrival.

The body of former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond was flown back to Scotland on a private jet Friday, six days after the politician died suddenly in North Macedonia.

The body of former Scottish First Minister, Alex Salmond was repatriated on a plane flying from North Macedonia to Aberdeen International Airport on Friday afternoon. Salmond was speaking at the Academy of National Diplomacy conference in south east Europe just minutes before he suffered a serious heart attack.