First Minister John Swinney has avoided confirming his attendance at a memorial service for the late Alex Salmond. While expressing his willingness to participate, Swinney stated that he would respect the wishes of Salmond’s family. Alex Salmond, the former First Minister, passed away unexpectedly from a heart attack during an event in North Macedonia. His body was repatriated to Aberdeen, thanks to billionaire Sir Tom Hunter’s provision of a chartered plane.
The issue of who will be permitted to attend Salmond’s funeral and subsequent memorial service has sparked controversy. There are reports suggesting that Nicola Sturgeon, who had a public falling out with Salmond, might be excluded from both events. Swinney, who also had a strained relationship with his former boss, refrained from explicitly declaring his attendance at the memorial service. He mentioned that as the First Minister of Scotland, he would appropriately pay tribute and lead a motion of condolence in the Scottish Parliament.
Sturgeon and Salmond had refrained from communication for several years following an investigation by Sturgeon’s government into allegations of sexual harassment against Salmond. The investigation was deemed unlawful, and Salmond had wanted Sturgeon to intervene earlier. Swinney sided with Sturgeon during the dispute and disapproved of Salmond’s actions against the government. In a previous interview, Swinney admitted to feeling “distant” from Salmond and stated that he did not envision campaigning alongside him again.
Salmond’s funeral, slated for October 29th, will be a private affair attended only by family and close friends. The tension surrounding the guest list for the funeral and memorial service highlights the complex dynamics within Scottish politics and the relationships between key figures. As the nation prepares to bid farewell to a significant political figure, the nuances of personal and professional interactions continue to shape the landscape of political discourse in Scotland.