Alex Salmond
Former Scottish First Minister (2007-2014) who delivered the 2011 SNP majority and 2014 independence referendum; died October 2024.
Last refreshed: 10 April 2026
Why does Alex Salmond's 2011 majority matter to Scotland's 2026 election?
Latest on Alex Salmond
- When did Alex Salmond die?
- Alex Salmond died in October 2024 while in North Macedonia. He was 69 years old.Source: Multiple news sources, October 2024
- How many seats did the SNP win in the 2011 Holyrood election under Alex Salmond?
- In the 2011 Holyrood election, Salmond led the SNP to 69 seats — an outright majority widely considered impossible under the Additional Member System. It was the first SNP outright majority.Source: Scottish Parliament
- Did Alex Salmond lead the 2014 Scottish independence referendum?
- Yes. Salmond led the campaign for Scottish independence in the 2014 referendum, which resulted in a 55.3% No vote. He resigned as First Minister and SNP leader the following day.Source: Scottish Government / Electoral Commission
- Why is Alex Salmond referenced in 2026 Scottish election coverage?
- Salmond's 2011 SNP outright majority is the closest historical parallel to what Electoral Calculus projects for 2026, where the SNP is forecast to win 67 seats. Both majorities, if achieved, create pressure for an independence referendum.Source: Electoral Calculus MRP, April 2026
Background
Alex Salmond served as First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014, leading two SNP governments. In 2011 he won the SNP's first and only outright Holyrood majority — a result widely considered structurally impossible under the Additional Member System — securing 69 seats. That majority enabled the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, which returned a 55.3% No vote. He resigned as First Minister and SNP leader following the referendum result. Salmond died in October 2024 while in North Macedonia.
After his 2014 resignation he returned to Westminster as MP for Gordon (2015-2017), then founded the Alba Party in 2021 following a highly publicised falling-out with his successor Nicola Sturgeon. He is referenced in 2026 coverage as the historical parallel for John Swinney's projected outright majority: the 2026 Electoral Calculus MRP projects the SNP at 67 seats, recalling — though not matching — Salmond's 2011 achievement that produced the independence referendum.
Salmond's significance extends beyond Scottish politics as a study in how majority government within a proportional system can unlock constitutional change. His 2014 referendum set the template for how devolved administrations escalate demands for self-determination, a model now watched closely in Wales, Northern Ireland, and by European independence movements. The independence question he forced onto the UK agenda in 2014 remains unresolved.