LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM -- Alex Salmond, the former first minister of Scotland who for decades championed Scotland鈥檚 independence from the U.K., has died. He was 69.

Anas Sarwar, leader of Scottish Labour, on Saturday confirmed Salmond鈥檚 death and said Salmond was a 鈥渃entral figure in politics for over three decades.鈥�

Salmond, as then leader of the Scottish National Party, led the independence campaign in the referendum in 2014, but lost, gaining 45 per cent of the vote.

Salmond resigned from the SNP in 2018 the wake of sexual harassment allegations, He subsequently formed a new party, called Alba.

Salmond served as first minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014, and was leader of the Scottish National Party on two occasions, from 1990 to 2000, and from 2004 to 2014.

Former U.K. Conservative Prime Minister Rishi Sunak said Salmond was a 鈥渉uge figure in our politics.鈥�

"While I disagreed with him on the constitutional question, there was no denying his skill in debate or his passion for politics," Sunak said on X. "May he rest in peace.鈥�

Correction:

This story was corrected to say that Sarwar is not the first minister.