Following the death of former First Minister Alex Salmond on 14 October 2024, The Student spoke to students and staff at the University of Edinburgh about Salmond’s life and legacy.
Salmond led the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 1990 to 2000, and again from 2004 to 2014.
He is best known for driving the independence movement in Scotland, culminating in the 2014 referendum.
Although most current Edinburgh students were children when Salmond was in power over ten years ago, many remember his political impact.
The President of Yes Students for Independence (YSI), Jules Sheridan, described Salmond as a “colossal figure” whose influence “extended far beyond the borders of these islands”.
Morven McCort, a second-year student, described how Salmond brought independence to the “forefront of Scottish society”.
Pontus Odmalm, a senior lecturer in politics at The University of Edinburgh, told The Student that Salmond made independence “less threatening to the average voter”.
Under Salmond, the SNP achieved an overall majority in Holyrood in 2011 – a very difficult feat in the proportionally elected Scottish Parliament that reflected increased support for the independence movement.
The result paved the way for the 2014 referendum.
Aside from the independence movement, Salmond’s government passed several significant policies, including abolishing tuition fees for Scottish students.
McCort said this was “one of the best policies” from Salmond’s government, and something they will “always be thankful for”.
Standing down as First Minister after losing the independence referendum,Salmond was succeeded by his long-time friend and deputy First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
According to Odmalm, Sturgeon continued Salmond’s “professionalisation” of the independence movement.
Stella Hardie, a second-year student, noted that Salmond had been surrounded by negative headlines in recent years.
Salmond was acquitted of charges after a high-profile trial in 2020 but the saga damaged his relation with both Sturgeon and his party.
Having resigned from the SNP in 2018 when the allegations first surfaced, he went on to establish Alba, a rival independence party to the SNP, in 2021.
He remained the Alba party leader until his sudden death earlier this month.
Sheridan said that Salmond has changed Scottish and UK politics “in a monumental way”, adding that:
“YSI believes that it is the younger generation who will take the baton and achieve independence for Scotland, after all it is the younger generation who have the most to gain”
Stella Hardie, a second-year student, said that she felt that he led the movement for independence “forward by a considerable amount”.
“The Edinburgh Agreement – Press conference (8090707977)” by Scottish Government is licensed under CC BY 2.0.