Private donor paying for Alex Salmond's body to be repatriated revealed as Sir Tom Hunter

The private donor who is paying for Alex Salmond’s body to be flown back to Scotland on Friday afternoon has been revealed as the philanthropist and businessman Sir Tom Hunter.

Sir Tom, who was Scotland's first ever home-grown billionaire, confirmed he is the mystery individual who has paid for a private flight to repatriate the body of the former first minister from North Macedonia.

Mr Salmond died at the age of 69 on Saturday after suffering a heart attack in the city of Ohrid, where he was attending a conference.

Alex Salmond died suddenly in North Macedonia last week, aged 69 | Johnston Press License

In a statement, Sir Tom said: “Whilst he and I disagreed on some of his ambitions, Alex Salmond devoted his life to Scotland and the Scottish people and as such he, and importantly his family, deserved the dignity and privacy of a private return to the home of his birth. Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with his family at this time. To be clear I remain resolutely apolitical.”

It is understood Sir Tom is paying for use of the Embraer Legacy 600 aircraft personally, and not through his charitable foundation. Online sources suggest the cost could be around £24,000.

The Alba Party, which Mr Salmond launched in 2021, previously confirmed the private plane carrying his body will leave Ohrid St Paul the Apostle Airport at around 11am local time, before landing in Aberdeen Airport at 1.45pm.

The coffin will then be transferred from the plane to a waiting hearse. Members of Mr Salmond’s family and acting Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill will greet the coffin on its arrival before the cortege departs to the family home in Strichen, Aberdeenshire. A private funeral is to be held, following by a public memorial event at a later date.

Tory MP and friend of Mr Salmond, Sir David Davis, had pushed for the RAF to be used to bring his body back from the city of Ohrid. Sir Tom later stepped in to pay for a private flight.

In a statement on Wednesday, Mr MacAskill said: “The family are incredibly grateful for the support which is being provided by a private citizen to charter a private plane to allow Alex’s body to come home to Scotland.

“It brings a great deal of comfort to [Mr Salmond’s wife] Moira and other members of the family to know that he will soon be home with them.

“The family have asked that their privacy be respected at this time and will be making an announcement in due course about the funeral arrangements and a memorial service to honour the life of Alex Salmond.”

Mr MacAskill also expressed the Salmond family’s appreciation to the North Macedonian government, for “expediting” the process of releasing Mr Salmond’s body and the Scottish and UK governments for their work in securing his repatriation.

A spokesperson for the Scottish Government said it is prepared to offer further help if necessary.

Tributes were paid to the former SNP leader in the House of Commons on Wednesday, with the Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer describing him as a “monumental figure in Scottish and UK politics”, who left a “lasting legacy”.

Both Tory leader Rishi Sunak and Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey also paid tribute.

The former first minister resigned his SNP party membership in 2018 following allegations of sexual harassment and went on to become leader of the pro-independence Alba Party in 2021.

He would later be cleared in the High Court of all criminal charges and would accuse figures in the Scottish Government and SNP of a plot against him, which was strongly denied.

Last year, Mr Salmond launched a second legal action against the Scottish Government – after a judge previously ruled a probe into two harassment complaints against him was “tainted with apparent bias” – accusing senior figures, including Ms Sturgeon and former permanent secretary Leslie Evans, of “misfeasance”.

Mr MacAskill, who is a lifelong friend of Mr Salmond, previously said this action can still be taken forward by the former first minister’s family, a move which he supported. It is not clear whether the family will chose to do this.