🚨 NEW: Nicola Sturgeon has paid tribute to ‘an incredibly significant figure’ in her life after the death of Alex Salmond
"I am shocked and sorry to learn of Alex Salmond’s death
"Obviously, I cannot pretend that the events of the past few years which led to the breakdown of our relationship did not happen, and it would not be right for me to try.
"However, it remains the fact that for many years Alex was an incredibly significant figure in my life. He was my mentor, and for more than a decade we formed one of the most successful partnerships in UK politics.
"Alex modernised the SNP and led us into government for the first time, becoming Scotland’s fourth First Minister and paving the way for the 2014 referendum which took Scotland to the brink of independence.
"He will be remembered for all of that. My thoughts are with Moira, his wider family and his friends.”