The UK Government is facing growing calls to use an RAF plane to fly Alex Salmond’s body home to Scotland as “quickly as possible”, with Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes stepping in.
Ms Forbes is understood to have met with the UK Government on Monday morning to push the case after his shock death in North Macedonia.
The former first minister died on Saturday afternoon, aged 69, from a suspected heart attack shortly after giving a speech in the Balkan country.
The veteran Aberdeenshire SNP politician lived in the Buchan village of Strichen with his wife Moira where tributes have poured in from locals.Â
Calls for RAF flight
Chris McEleny, Alba Party general secretary, has travelled to North Macedonia.
He told the P&J that Ms Forbes met with the UK Government on Monday morning to discuss the repatriation of the former first minister.
He added Chancellor Rachel Reeves was lobbied about the issue on Sunday night.
Mr McEleny, who described Mr Salmond as a “father like figure” to him, said: “He is the first ever first minister to have died overseas so there is no protocol.
“He is someone that means a lot to a lot of people and it is fitting for him to be returned home as soon as possible.
“The quickest way is through UK Government support or it could become protracted and long.”
Mr McEleny suggested it could take “weeks” if a commercial flight is used.
“It wouldn’t be fair on his family or the people of Scotland and not appropriate for a former first minister of Scotland”, he said.
“The UK Government just need to say ‘make it so’ and it will be done.”
The Scottish Government has been in regular dialogue with the Foreign Office since Saturday to ensure consular support is in place for Mr Salmond’s family and around the repatriation of the former first minister.
‘They’ve been listening’
Sir David Davis, a Conservative MP and close friend of Mr Salmond is among those pushing the Foreign Office to use an RAF plane to return his body.
“They’ve been listening”, he said of the government.
“But I know there are practicalities, there aren’t just aircraft sitting on a runway ready to take off.
“But they’re working on making it happen one way or another, whether it’s an RAF flight or a civil flight.”
Moving tributes to Mr Salmond and his legacy were heard from across the political spectrum at the House of Commons on Monday afternoon.
SNP Westminster leader leader Stephen Flynn reflected on a speech Mr Salmond gave in the 2017 general election, when he lost his Gordon seat.
The Aberdeen South MP said that despite the despair being felt in the room that night, Mr Salmond made everyone in the SNP that night feel “ten feet tall”.
“He gave us back the hope that things would get better and would get better quickly”, he added.
Scottish Secretary Ian Murray said it was “impossible to overstate the impact Alex Salmond had on Scotland and on politics”.
While former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn said he was a “good friend to lots of us”.
Family tribute
A statement from Mr Salmond’s family, released on Sunday, paid tribute to a “formidable politician” and a “devoted and loving husband”.
They added: “In our darkest of family moments, he was always the one who got us through, making this time even more difficult, as he is not here for us to turn to. His resilience and optimism knew no bounds.
“He led us to believe in better. Without Alex, life will never be the same again.
“But he would want us to continue with his life’s work for independence, and for justice, and that is what we shall do.”
A Foreign Office spokesman said: “We are providing consular support to the family of Alex Salmond following his death in North Macedonia, and are in contact with the local authorities and Scottish Government.”
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