Alex Salmond memorial service to be held at St Giles' Cathedral on St Andrew's Day

A memorial service to commemorate the life of Alex Salmond will be held at St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh on St Andrew's Day. 

Friends and family said the service on November 30 would allow people to say farewell to the former first minister and reflect on his life and achievements.

Mr Salmond was laid to rest near his home in Aberdeenshire last month, following his sudden death at the age of 69 in North Macedonia.

The former SNP leader, who went on to set up the Alba Party, had been speaking at a conference when he suffered a heart attack.

A family spokesman told The Sunday Times: "Friends of Alex, who knew and worked with him for many years, are providing support at the family's request in helping to organise a fitting memorial service for the former first minister.

"It will be an occasion for people to say farewell to Alex and reflect on his life and achievements."

First Minister John Swinney is expected to attend, alongside representatives of the main political parties in Scotland. Representatives from North Macedonia will also be invited, The Sunday Times reported.

Nicola Sturgeon, Mr Salmond's successor as first minister, is not expected to attend.

Mr Swinney previously led tributes to Mr Salmond in Holyrood. He said the former first minister “left an indelible mark on Scotland and on Scottish and United Kingdom politics and public life”.

A private funeral service at Strichen Parish Church in Aberdeenshire took place last month.

Several political figures were among the mourners, including acting Alba leader Kenny MacAskill, former Commons speaker John Bercow and Alba Party chairwoman Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh.

Former SNP MPs Jim Sillars and Joanna Cherry also attended, as did close friend SNP MSP Fergus Ewing and his sister Annabelle Ewing, and Mr Salmond’s former chief of staff, Geoff Aberdein.

Mr Salmond’s niece Christina Hendry told the service: “Uncle Alex was an important person to many, but to us he was a husband, a brother, an uncle, a colleague and a dear friend.”