Alex Salmond, former leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP), has died. As the BBC reports, the 69-year-old politician collapsed after a speech.
Salmond first served as leader of the SNP from 1990 to 2000, but resigned from the post following criticism within the party. He then became parliamentary group leader of the SNP in the House of Commons in London. In 2004 he returned to Edinburgh, became party leader again and won the election to the Scottish Parliament in 2007 as the leading candidate, making him head of government. In 2011 he repeated this success, securing London's approval for the 2014 independence referendum. After its failure, he resigned from his post.
