Margo MacDonald memorial set for 25 April

Margo Macdonald, who died last week aged 70. Picture: Getty

The ceremony will take place at the Assembly Hall on the Mound, the site of the temporary Scottish Parliament following devolution where Ms MacDonald debated when she was first elected in 1999.

Tributes are expected to be delivered by health minister Alex Neil, a close friend of the Lothian MSP, and her husband Jim Sillars, the former SNP deputy leader and political commentator.

The event is open to the public and her family have asked people attending to wear colourful clothes instead of formal black items.

The Assembly Hall can accommodate around 1,200 people.

In a notice for the event, Ms MacDonald’s family said: “A celebration of her life will take place at the Assembly Hall, on the Mound, on Friday, April 25, at 10:30am, to which all are invited.

“This is not to be an occasion for mourning. At Margo’s request, please attend in bright clothes. No flowers please.”

The death of the Independent Lothians MSP at the age of 70 on Friday was met with mourning and tributes from across the political spectrum.

Mr Sillars said on Friday: “Today, the brightest light in the Scottish political firmament has gone out.”

Ms MacDonald is regarded as a hugely influential figure in the independence movement, rising to prominence after winning the Glasgow Govan Westminster by-election for the SNP in 1973.

• Obituary: Margo MacDonald, independent MSP