Alex Salmond funeral will take place at Strichen Parish Church on Tuesday

The funeral service for Alex Salmond, which will take place tomorrow (Tuesday)  will be addressed by two of the late first minister’s closest political allies, it has been announced.

Kenny MacAskill, the acting Alba Party leader, and SNP MSP Fergus Ewing will both deliver eulogies at Strichen Parish Church on Tuesday afternoon.

Both politicians were key members of Mr Salmond’s inner circle at the time he led the SNP to its breakthrough election victory in 2007.

MacAskill would later quit the Nationalists and join his lifelong friend in launching the breakaway Alba Party in 2021.

Mr Salmond died from a heart attack aged 69 earlier this month while attending a conference in North Macedonia.

A private service attended by close friends and family will be held near his home at Strichen Parish Church, followed by a burial at Strichen Cemetery. A public memorial is to be held at a later date.

Christina Hendry, daughter of Salmond’s sister Gail, will also deliver a eulogy at the service.

Salmond’s body was previously flown home to Scotland on a flight paid for by the billionaire philanthropist Sir Tom Hunter.