Alex Salmond: The Man Who Promised Scotland Oil-Fueled Independence

Alex Salmond, former First Minister of Scotland, king of the SNP, and the man who led a charge for independence powered by oil prices and wishful thinking, has died at the age of 69. Known for his ability to convince Scotland that financial freedom was just one referendum away, Salmond’s legacy is as complex and controversial as the man himself. He came close to breaking up the UK in 2014, but then fell spectacularly from grace, leaving behind a trail of scandals, courtroom drama, and, in perhaps his most baffling move yet, a stint as a TV presenter for RT, Vladimir Putin’s favourite propaganda channel. Because when your political career nosedives, why not cosy up to Russia for a bit of light broadcasting?

This is the man who befriended Donald Trump, promised Scotland a financial future built on sinking oil prices, got caught up in a groping scandal in Bute House, and somehow ended up working for a Russian state-funded network. If you thought Salmond’s political life was dramatic, wait until you hear what he did in his second act.

The Rise: Selling Scotland an Oil Fantasy, and Throwing in a Golf Course for Good Measure

Alex Salmond didn’t always look like someone who’d end up playing TV host for a Russian news channel. No, he started as an economist—yes, really—before turning his attention to politics in the 1970s when he joined the SNP, a party then considered about as relevant as an umbrella in the Sahara. But Salmond wasn’t one to dream small. By 2007, he had dragged the SNP to power and, as First Minister, set his sights on the ultimate goal: Scottish independence.

The 2014 referendum was Salmond’s magnum opus. Armed with a vision of a Scotland flush with oil money and free from Westminster’s clutches, he rallied the nation to vote for independence. In true Salmond fashion, the plan was both grand and, upon closer inspection, a bit fantastical. His entire pitch rested on North Sea oil revenue filling Scotland’s coffers—despite the fact that oil prices are about as reliable as the Wi-Fi at a Highland B&B.

At the time, oil prices were hovering at $100 a barrel, and Salmond, with a straight face, assured Scots that this would keep them financially sound in an independent Scotland. The only problem was that Scotland’s public spending gap was £12 billion annually, and North Sea oil wasn’t even delivering a quarter of that. But Salmond wasn’t one to let a little thing like reality get in the way of a good dream. Alas, it didn’t work. In the end, 55% of Scots voted to remain in the UK, and Salmond’s fantasy of an oil-funded Scotland sank along with the barrel price, which tanked shortly after the vote.

Trump: A Golf Course, a Bromance, and a Fallout

Just when you thought Salmond’s career couldn’t get more surreal, along came Donald Trump—because every self-respecting Scottish nationalist needs a billionaire American property tycoon in their Rolodex. It all started in 2008 when Trump, in his infinite wisdom, decided Scotland needed a new golf resort. Salmond, seeing dollar signs and not much else, enthusiastically supported the plan to build a luxury golf course in Aberdeenshire, believing it would bring jobs and investment.

For a while, the Salmond-Trump bromance was in full swing. Handshakes, photo ops, and endless flattery. Trump was thrilled to be playing on the Scottish stage, and Salmond was just happy to have an American billionaire backing his plans. The locals, however, were less than pleased, as Trump’s golf course project bulldozed over environmental concerns (and a few actual people’s homes).

But like all great political bromances, this one came to a spectacular end. Salmond backed an offshore wind farm near Trump’s resort, leading the famously mild-mannered Trump to accuse Salmond of ruining Scotland’s coastline. The friendship quickly dissolved, with Trump labeling Salmond a "has-been"—because nothing says “burnt bridges” like a Trumpian insult.

The Fall: Bute House Groping Scandals and the Salmond-Sturgeon Feud

If Salmond’s economic vision for Scotland crumbled after the referendum, his personal life collapsed even more dramatically. In 2018, allegations surfaced that Salmond had sexually assaulted multiple women during his time as First Minister, including incidents of groping at Bute House, the official residence of Scotland’s leader. For a man whose political career had already taken a nosedive, this was a full-on crash landing.

Salmond was charged with multiple counts of sexual misconduct, including accusations of inappropriate advances and groping women in his official capacity. The trial, which took place in 2020, was a political soap opera that gripped Scotland. Salmond claimed he was the victim of a conspiracy, even pointing the finger at his former protégé Nicola Sturgeon, who had taken over as SNP leader. The once-golden relationship between Sturgeon and Salmond disintegrated into a very public, very messy feud that split the SNP.

In the end, Salmond was acquitted of all charges, but the damage to his reputation was done. The man who had led Scotland toward independence was now more famous for courtroom drama and Bute House scandals than for any political victory.

RT: When Your Career Dies, Why Not Host a Show on Russian TV?

Now, if you thought Salmond would fade quietly into retirement after his acquittal, you clearly don’t know the man. Instead of retreating into obscurity, he decided to launch a new career—as a TV presenter for RT, Russia’s state-funded propaganda network. Yes, in perhaps the most bizarre twist of his career, Salmond became the host of The Alex Salmond Show on a channel best known for being Putin’s mouthpiece.

If the idea of the man who once railed against Westminster now cozying up to a Russian state broadcaster doesn’t make your head spin, nothing will. Salmond defended his move, claiming that RT gave him editorial freedom (as much “freedom” as you can get while working for a network whose real boss is the Kremlin), but the whole thing felt like a desperate grasp for relevance. From selling Scotland on financial independence to selling... well, whatever Putin wanted him to sell that week.

Salmond’s choice to work for RT was met with widespread criticism. What had once been a promising political career had now fully descended into farce. For many, it was the final nail in the coffin of a legacy that had already been heavily tarnished by scandal and delusion.

The Alba Party: The Comeback No One Wanted

And because no Salmond saga would be complete without one last attempt to claw back power, he launched the Alba Party in 2021. The plan? To challenge Nicola Sturgeon and reignite the push for independence. The result? An electoral disaster. Alba won zero seats, and Salmond’s final attempt at relevance fizzled out faster than the oil prices he once staked Scotland’s future on.

Legacy: A Mix of Delusion, Trumpian Golf, RT Propaganda, and Scandal

So, how do we sum up Alex Salmond’s legacy? He was the man who brought Scotland closer to independence than anyone in modern history, only to see his dreams dashed by economic reality and a series of truly baffling career choices. From befriending Trump to groping scandals in Bute House, to cozying up to Russian state TV, Salmond’s journey was less “Braveheart” and more “Carry On, Politics.”

His legacy is one of grand delusions—he promised Scotland financial independence on the back of oil that never delivered, and he went from leading Scotland to the brink of freedom to becoming a punchline in a Russian news channel. Whether you see him as a visionary or a cautionary tale, one thing is for sure: Alex Salmond’s political life was never boring.

In the end, Salmond gave Scotland dreams of independence, Trump golf courses, and RT news segments. Not exactly the national hero many envisioned, but in the world of Alex Salmond, the lines between fantasy and farce were always a bit blurry.