Alex Salmond to give part of FM pension to charity

Alex Salmond is to donate his annual First Ministerial pension to a charity he set up in memory of his late mother.
Alex Salmond pictured after leaving his final FMQs. Picture: HeMediaAlex Salmond pictured after leaving his final FMQs. Picture: HeMedia
Alex Salmond pictured after leaving his final FMQs. Picture: HeMedia

The departing First Minister announced today that he is to give the £42,501 pension to the Mary Salmond Trust every year for as long as he continues to serve as an MSP.

The move comes as he prepares to leave the office of First Minister this week, with his deputy Nicola Sturgeon taking on the role.

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Under parliamentary rules Mr Salmond is entitled to an annual pension of half his salary as First Minister from the day he leaves office, regardless of his age.

But Mr Salmond, who previously drew criticism for being unable to waive the pension, is to put the money to the charity he set up in 2007 to assist organisations such as the Girl Guides

Mr Salmond said: “I intend to put this into the Mary Salmond Trust, a charity that assists youth organisations in the north-east.

Alex Salmond biography: A skinny, quiet but talented boy who liked the girls and horses but learned how to put Scotland first

“She was my mother and a life-long guider and I think this is what she would have expected.

“I feel this is the proper thing to do.

“The Mary Salmond Trust has done a great job supporting young people, community and charitable causes across the north-east and I am delighted that this work can now continue.”

Trust

The former SNP leader, who handed over party control to Mrs Sturgeon at the weekend, set up the Mary Salmond Trust in April 2007 as a tribute to his late mother.

At the time he was in dual roles as an MP for Banff and Buchan in Westminster and as an MSP for Gordon.

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This entitled him to his full Westminster salary plus one third of his salary from the Scottish Parliament.

But Mr Salmond pledged not to benefit from two salaries and instead put the money towards the trust.

He said: “When I was a dual MP - MSP I put my Westminster salary into the trust, so there’s about 100,000 pounds in there.

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“I’m following the example of Dennis Canavan, who is the only other politician I know who chose not to benefit from two salaries.

“The First Ministerial pension is for life but I’m not retiring and therefore I think this is the right thing to do.”

Since it was established the Mary Salmond Trust has distributed around 92,000 pounds to help over 200 youth organisations and young people with grants of up to 500 pounds.

Mrs Salmond died suddenly in May 2003 whilst walking with her local walking group, Linlithgow Ramblers, near Glenmore in the Highlands.

She was 81 years old.

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Charity trustee, Roddy McColl, welcomed the funding announcement yesterday.

He said:”This is tremendous news and will enable the trust to continue its work supporting good causes and charities across the north-east.

“The trustees are delighted with the standard of application we have received and a great deal of exceptionally good work is being assisted by the grants we have been able to make.”

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