Alex Salmond, 'monumental figure' of Scottish politics, dies at 69

FILE PHOTO: ALBA Party Leader and Scotland's former First Minister Alex Salmond speaks at the launch of ALBA's national campaign, in Ellon, Scotland, Britain, April 6, 2021. REUTERS/Russell Cheyne/File Photo

LONDON (Reuters) -Scottish former First Minister Alex Salmond, who helped change the course of Scottish politics and pushed Scotland to the verge of independence from the United Kingdom, died on Saturday. He was 69.

Salmond, who headed the devolved Scottish government for seven years from 2007, is credited with helping boost support for Scottish independence during a 2014 referendum in which Scots voted 55%-45% in favour of staying in the United Kingdom.