Tom Hunter pays for plane to bring Alex Salmond’s body home

Acting leader MacAskill, a former SNP cabinet colleague of Salmond, said: “It brings a great deal of comfort to 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.”

MacAskill also expressed the Salmond family’s appreciation to the North Macedonian, Scottish and UK governments.

A Scottish government spokesperson said: “Over the last few days, the Scottish government and UK government have been engaging with Alex Salmond’s family and working closely together in accordance with their wishes, to ensure the swift and dignified repatriation of the former first minister to Scotland.”

They added: “The Scottish government continues to engage with Mr Salmond’s family, and we stand ready to offer further advice and support, should it be required.”