Tom Hunter pays for plane to bring Alex Salmond’s body home

Businessman and philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter has paid for the plane flying Alex Salmond’s body home from North Macedonia, the BBC understands.

The former first minster died of a heart attack on Saturday while attending a conference in North Macedonia.

Sir Tom has chartered a plane for the repatriation, with the flight scheduled to arrive at Aberdeen Airport shortly before 14:00 on Friday.

Members of the family and acting Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill will greet the coffin on its arrival before the cortege departs to the family home in Strichen.

A private family funeral is to be held, followed by a public memorial event at a later date.

In a statement to the Times, Sir Tom said: “Whilst he and I disagreed on some of his ambitions, Alex Salmond devoted his life to Scotland and the Scottish people and as such he, and importantly his family, deserved the dignity and privacy of a private return to the home of his birth.

“Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with his family at this time.”

Tributes have been paid to former SNP leader Salmond, who died aged 69, from across the political spectrum in recent days.

First Minister John Swinney has lodged a motion of condolence at Holyrood, while books of condolence have been opened in the parliament for MSPs and members of the public to leave messages.

The Alba Party, which Mr Salmond formed in 2021 and which he led until his death, confirmed on Wednesday a private citizen had stepped in to pay for a chartered flight.

Acting leader MacAskill, a former SNP cabinet colleague of Salmond, said the family was “incredibly grateful” for the support it had

He added: “It brings a great deal of comfort to Moira and other members of the family to know that he will soon be home with them.

“The family have asked that their privacy be respected at this time and will be making an announcement in due course about the funeral arrangements and a memorial service to honour the life of Alex Salmond.”

MacAskill also expressed the Salmond family’s appreciation to the North Macedonian, Scottish and UK governments.

A Scottish government spokesperson said: “Over the last few days, the Scottish government and UK government have been engaging with Alex Salmond’s family and working closely together in accordance with their wishes, to ensure the swift and dignified repatriation of the former first minister to Scotland.”

They added: “The Scottish government continues to engage with Mr Salmond’s family, and we stand ready to offer further advice and support, should it be required.”

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