Tributes paid to Alex Salmond’s ‘colossal contribution’ to Scottish and UK politics

First minister John Swinney says predecessor, who died on Saturday, had a huge impact on our public life'

John Swinney has paid tribute to Alex Salmond's colossal contribution" to Scottish and UK politics, as allies of the former first minister mourned his sudden death on Saturday.

Swinney, the incumbent first minister, said Salmond had had a huge impact on public life by forging the Scottish National party into a force capable of winning successive elections and then by bringing Scotland incredibly close" to independence.