Alex Salmond death could lead to 'highest-ever support for independence'

Chris McEleny, the party’s general secretary, has dismissed ideas pitched in recent days such as renaming the Queensferry Crossing or naming streets in memory of Salmond, who suddenly died from a heart attack in North Macedonia last weekend.

More than 1400 people have put their names to the call for the bridge across the Firth of Forth to be renamed in his honour.

But while McEleny said the idea would make Salmond “smile”, he has insisted the only “fitting tribute” Scots can make to Salmond’s life is to make his dream of Scottish independence become a reality.

McEleny added that in the days since Salmond’s death aged 69, he has noticed a national conversation restart about Scotland’s future as people reflect on his achievements and impact on the country.

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He went as far as to suggest the next poll on Scottish independence could result in the highest-ever support for Yes, with “more people now talking about independence in a positive light than they have for 10 years”.

Asked about how he wished to see Salmond’s legacy honoured, McEleny (below, with Salmond) told the Sunday National: “Lots of people have said to honour his legacy we should name streets after him or name bridges after him. He would’ve probably smiled at that.

“I think the best way to honour Alex Salmond’s legacy is to deliver independence for Scotland. It’s not about naming a bridge after him.

“He dedicated his whole life to taking Scotland closer than it has ever been before to regaining its independence, so I think that is his true legacy. We’re living in it right now.

(Image: NQ) “You walk down a street and you will not be able to avoid someone who has benefitted from a tangible policy that he brought to Scotland. You’ll bump into someone who has had free university tuition, you’ll bump into somebody who's been at the doctor's and they’ve got a free prescription, you’ll bump into someone who’s driven across the Queensferry Crossing or taken the Borders Railway.

“These are colossal achievements over such a small amount of time, which is the reason he built such a popular movement because people realised how much he could achieve in a short time.

“The only fitting tribute that anyone could give to Alex Salmond is to get out there and deliver independence.”

Salmond’s body was returned to Scotland on Friday on a private plane paid for by private donor Tom Hunter.

The Alba leader was given a guard of honour as his coffin – draped in a Saltire – was taken onto the flight to Aberdeen Airport. A cortege was then led by the Yes Bikers to Fraserburgh, close to Salmond’s home village of Strichen.

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McEleny arrived in the city of Ohrid – where Salmond had been at a conference speaking about Scottish independence – on Sunday to provide emotional support to friends and colleagues following his death.

While it has been a challenging time for the party, McEleny said he has found some comfort in seeing conversations restart about Scottish independence as people look back on Salmond’s achievements in office and how close he came to giving Scotland a new future back in 2014.

 “I think there is a national conversation that has been provoked across Scotland,” he said.

“People are asking themselves profoundly serious questions because they are now reflecting on Alex’s life and achievements, and a lot of that centred on 2014.

“I would wager that the next poll we see on independence will be the highest-ever poll we’ve seen for Yes because many undecided people have thought this man actually gave so much to Scotland.

“A lot of the commentary I’ve been listening to over the last few days, there’s been people talking about the achievements in office, the promises that could’ve been delivered with independence so, more people are talking about independence in a positive light than they have for 10 years and I think a lot of those people may say, 'I was No in 2014, but actually I think he was right', and they’ll now come towards independence.

(Image: Chris McEleny) “That’ll be his legacy, having left support for independence higher than it’s ever been for a new generation to then go on and deliver it.”

Before his death, Salmond had begun supporting a couple from Coatbridge seeking to take the UK and Scottish governments to court over the cut to the Winter Fuel Payment for pensioners.

McEleny said the move showed how Salmond, right up until his death, was still seeking out opportunities to stand up for people who perhaps historically did not vote for independence.

“He saw the twin edge of it - one, being wrong in people losing their Winter Fuel Payment, but two, as someone who has wanted independence his whole life, he saw the political opportunity in actually being seen in the eyes of a substantial group of people that historically don’t vote for independence, to actually be standing up for them.

“Other people might have come up with those ideas in time. Alec was always well ahead of the curve.”

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Salmond – who led the SNP twice in his career before going on to form Alba in 2021 – was credited with taking the SNP from the fringes of Scottish politics to being a party of government. Equally, he is seen to be the person who made the issue of independence a central issue in political discourse in the country having negotiated a deal with the UK Government as first minister for Scotland to have a referendum.

When he stepped down in 2014 following the referendum loss for the Yes side, his message of “the dream will never die” became a huge motivator for crushed activists and supporters.

With a private funeral and public memorial service still to be arranged, the focus for the Alba leadership in the weeks to come will be to take stock and continue to come to terms with the loss of Salmond.

But when the time does come for the party to work out its strategy going forward, McEleny said making sure Salmond’s “dream” is delivered will be at the forefront of their minds.

“There can’t be many independence supporters in the country that don’t feel some level of emotion to his phrase ‘the dream will never die’,” he said.

“I think for many of us going forward, our job is now to realise his dream. I don’t think there is a more compelling message as to why we should carry on in his honour and deliver that dream.”