Sturgeon will not attend Salmond's Holyrood memorial after 'range of emotions'

Former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she will not attend Holyrood on Wednesday as MSPs pay tribute Alex Salmond.

The Alba leader died in North Macedonia earlier this month after suffering a heart attack aged 69.

His body was repatriated – on a flight paid for by businessman Sir Tom Hunter – on October 18, landing in Aberdeen on a private plane.

Salmond’s funeral service took place at Strichen Parish Church in Aberdeenshire, near his home on Tuesday.

Current First Minister John Swinney lodged a motion of condolence which was taken in the Chamber on Wednesday, October 30, however, Sturgeon has confirmed she will not be in attendance as she experiences a “range of emotions”.

Salmond and Sturgeon had a troubled relationship in recent years but had worked closely together taking the SNP to power and during the 2014 independence referendum.

She served her political apprenticeship during Salmond’s first term as leader and was his deputy for a decade before taking over as First Minister herself.

Their split was the biggest ever seen in Scottish politics.

The fallout led to a civil war within the SNP as the party’s two most significant leaders fought an increasingly bitter battle, which appeared to start in a dispute over process and became a head-on clash over their respective integrity.

In response to being asked if she would be attending the motion of condolence, Sturgeon said: “I have experienced a range of emotions since Alex Salmond’s death.

“I feel the loss of someone who for many years was an incredibly important person in my life. At the same time, I cannot pretend that the events of the past few years did not happen.

“At a very human level, I have been wrestling with how to pay appropriate respect to an individual who had a big impact on me – and on the life of the country – but in a way that feels right, and which does not distract from the grief of Alex’ family, who are the people who matter most right now.

“Weighing all this up, I have concluded that it is best for me to remember Alex privately. For the purposes of today that will mean watching the motion of condolence online rather than being physically present in the chamber.

“I appreciate that others in my position might make different decisions, but sometimes doing what feels most right is the best any of us can do.”