Salmond had turned what was once a largely academic question into the most important issue in UK politics. But the “yes” campaign for independence lost by 55 per cent to 45 per cent.
As a result, Salmond quit as leader of Scotland and his party, handing over the reins to Nicola Sturgeon.
He returned to serve as an MP in Westminster but lost his seat at the 2017 general election.
Then a year later, he resigned from his party after allegations of rape and sexual assault emerged, resulting in him being charged with 14 offences.
He was acquitted of all charges after a trial in 2020 – having already won GB£500,000 (US$653,00) in compensation from the Scottish government over the way it had handled its own investigation.
The affair generated huge animosity between Salmond and his former protege Sturgeon over how she had handled the affair.
He later became leader of a new pro-independence party the Alba Party, but it has failed to match the political successes of the SNP.
