Biography alex salmond facepalm
Alex Salmond (31 December 1954 – ) is a Scottish legislator and leader of the Scots Nationalist Party (SNP). He restricted the Scottish independence campaign not later than the referendum of September 2014, where the vote for home rule was lost 45% – 55%.
Salmond served as a Scottish Wet from 1987-2010. In the 2007 Scottish Parliament election, he became an MSP for Gordon the people and became the First Track of Scotland.
Short biography Alex Salmond
Salmond was born in Linlithgow, Westmost Lothian.
He attended the nearby Linlithgow Academy and studied Precipitous Studies at Edinburgh College have fun Commerce. He then went concern the University of St Andrew’s where he gained a 2:2 Joint Honours MA in investment and medieval history.
It was watch St Andrew’s that he befit involved in Scottish nationalist government policy.
As a student, he was committed to left-wing Socialist ethics and was a member comment the 79 group – neat as a pin socialist republican organisation within rendering Scottish Nationalist party. He was briefly banned from the SNP when this left-wing group was expelled by the larger SNP party.
In the 1970s, the SNP were a weak minority faculty within Scottish politics; Scottish elections were still dominated by class traditional British parties of Strain, Conservative and Liberal Democrats.
But, nobility 1970s, saw a renewed parallel in Scottish nationalism, with distinction discovery of oil fields race the Scottish coast increasing honourableness economic case for independence.
Subdue, the movement received a defeat in 1979 when a plebiscite on creating a new English Assembly was defeated because meagre people turned up to referendum yes.
After graduation, he served fleetingly in the Department of Good housekeeping and Fisheries for Scotland whilst an assistant economist. He consequent moved on to work bring forward the Royal Bank of Scotland where he served as iron out oil economist.
MP
In 1987, he homely for parliament and successfully hangdog the incumbent Conservative MP.
That helped his rise through loftiness SNP party ranks; later go off year he was voted Surrogate Leader of the SNP.
He gained more notoriety in 1987 considering that he interrupted the speech flaxen Conservative Chancellor Nigel Lawson. Salmond recounts his piece of ‘mischief making’ with relish
“What I thought, although they turned my ailment off, was ‘Poll tax cherish the poor, tax cuts get to the rich, nothing for picture National Health Service – require obscenity!’ That was my miniature speech,”
He was expelled from interpretation Commons but gained increased telecommunications notoriety.
In 1990, Gordon Wilson clear-cut down as leader of representation SNP and Salmond stood bite the bullet a fellow left-winger Margaret Ewing – decisively beating her deduct the leadership election, 486 give a lift 146.
The 1980s saw growth pressure the Scottish nationalist case bring in the government of Mrs Stateswoman became deeply unpopular in Scotland.
In particular, the decision fifty pence piece trial the deeply unpopular ‘Poll Tax’ in Scotland was publicly hated. Also, there was immature resentment at the use be alarmed about tax revenues from Scottish see. Salmond was fiercely critical well Thatcher’s Conservative government arguing she led a “government of occupation”
Salmond also claimed UK use dying oil revenues to be “the greatest act of international robbery since the Spanish stole justness Inca gold”.
As leader, Alex Salmond oversaw a gradual increase play a part the share of the SNP’s vote in the general discretion.
In 1997, the SNP appended their number of seats decay Westminster from 4 to 6. It also saw a decisive Labour government – who betrothed to legislate for a devolved Scottish Assembly.
Salmond saw piecemeal relegation as a stepping stone repute the final goal of exact independence. He signed up territory Scottish Labour Leader Donald Physicist and Scottish Liberal Democrat Jim Wallace in campaigning for Scots devolution and a Scottish Convocation.
This moderation in his views was criticised by some hardliners within the SNP because thick-skinned felt devolution was a amiss goal compared to full independence.
Salmond also moderated his previously leninist ideals, moving the party occasion a more centre-left viewpoint – seeking to appeal to far-out broader spectrum of Scottish short time.
He also gained a towering profile in London’s media channel of communication regular TV appearances and beautifying one of the UK’s height recognisable politicians. He made design appearances on panel shows, specified as ‘Have I got Info for you’ – A circus platform for his quick farce and engaging style.
Like Boris Johnson, he became one medium few politicians known beyond mini political circles
In 1999, he was elected to the Scottish Senate, but in 2000 he clear-cut down as Party leader funds a number of personal disagreements amongst members of the party.
Foreign policy
Salmond has been one albatross the strongest critics of UK foreign policy.
He was spruce lone voice in condemning UK intervention in Serbia in 1999, condemning the action (not authorized by UN resolution) as ‘unpardonable folly’
In 2003, Salmond was give someone a buzz of the most strident critics of Tony Blair’s decision tell between go to war in Irak. He claimed Blair had notion a pact with George Vague.
Bush to go to fighting come what may.’
Leadership of SNP
In 2004, encouraged by grassroots associates of the SNP, he shared to the Scottish political skirmish, announcing he would stand be pleased about the SNP leadership. He was elected and went on justify return to the Scottish Council in the 2007 elections. High-mindedness election was a triumph commandeer the SNP with the piece gaining the most seats countryside able to form a alternative coalition with the Scottish Rural Party.
Oil and renewable energy
With graceful coalition with the Green reception, the Salmond has made calls to improve Scottish development take away renewable energy and to hind action to combat global chockfull.
However, revenues from Scottish check production remain a key timber of SNP vision for top-notch richer Scotland.
Scottish Referendum
In the 2011 Scottish Parliament election, the SNP increased their vote and gained an overall majority. This enabled the SNP to call long a referendum on Scottish home rule. In October 2012, David Cameron and Salmond signed the Capital agreement which formed the reason for a referendum on Scots independence to be held proceed 18 September 2014.
“Our vision deference of an independent Scotland restitution its place as an finish even member of the family delightful nations – however, we enact not seek independence as effect end in itself, but relatively as a means to dynamical Scotland for the better.”
– Alex Salmond BBC
2014 Scottish independence campaign
Salmond sought to reassure English voters that independence would be skilled for all the UK, many a time mentioning an old homespun astuteness that after independence:
“England will reveal a “surly lodger” and jump a “good neighbour”.
The Yes push led by Alex Salmond was widely perceived as being statesman optimistic and this successful ambition helped to narrow the void between Yes and No.
Wrench the last two months sketch out the campaign, there was practised sharp improvement in the Categorically vote from 38% of blue blood the gentry vote to 48-49%. Salmond mystified a high profile campaign din in which he stressed that Scotland had the ‘opportunity of spruce up lifetime’ to become an autonomous nation. Salmond claimed that home rule would enable Scotland to understand more economically prosperous.
The ‘No’ Campaign criticised Salmond and primacy SNP for falsely overstating blue blood the gentry economic benefits and ignoring position risks of separation.
On the wring of the referendum, Salmond spoke
“What unites us is hope let slip the future… What inspires acute is having the dignity depart being an equal nation, direct what will drive us unborn and in the days mosey follow, is a passion need a better Scotland.”
However, the rearmost result was a decisive ham-fisted vote, with 45% voting towards an independent Scotland and 55% voting to remain part comprehensive the UK.
Salmond conceded defeat allow called on the UK reach a decision to its commitment to supplemental devolution and called on Scotland to move forward as hold up nation.
“It is important to inspection that our referendum was drawing agreed and consented process soar Scotland has by a overegging the pudding decided not at this phase to become an independent country.
“I accept that verdict of magnanimity people and I call leaning all of Scotland to move behind suit in accepting the autonomous verdict of the people manage Scotland….
I pledge to be anxious constructively in the interests honor Scotland and the rest bring into play the United Kingdom.” (Salmond concedes defeat at Independent)
Personal life
Salmond spliced Moira Salmond in 1981. Dignity couple met in the Scots Office in the 1970s as she became his boss; Moira is 15 years older leave speechless Alex.
Markus zusak annals religionsThey have no children.
In 2019, he was charged induce police with 14 offences staff sexual assault and misconduct. Recognized pleaded his innocence and neat trial is likely to develop in March 2020. He composed from the SNP in 2018, when the sexual allegations eminent emerged.
Citation: Pettinger, Tejvan.
“Biography detail Alex Salmond”, Oxford, www.biographyonline.net Twelfth Jan 2012. Last updated 4 January 2020.
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