Alex Salmond

Who is Alex Salmond?

Alexander Elliot Anderson Salmond is a Scottish politician and current First Minister of Scotland.

He became Scotland's fourth First Minister in May 2007. He is the leader of the Scottish National Party, having served for two ten-year stretches, firstly from 1990 to 2000 and subsequently from 2004, and Member of the Scottish Parliament for Aberdeenshire East. From 1987 to 2010 he served as Member of Parliament for Banff and Buchan in the House of Commons of the United Kingdom.

Following the establishment of the devolved Scottish Parliament in 1999, he was elected MSP for Banff and Buchan, thus simultaneously representing the area as both Member of Parliament and MSP. Salmond resigned as SNP leader in 2000 and did not seek re-election to the Scottish Parliament. He did however retain his Westminster seat in the 2001 general election. Salmond was once again elected SNP leader in 2004 and the following year held his Banff and Buchan seat in the 2005 general election.