Alex Salmond's body set to be flown home in private plane following Scottish Government negotiations

dailyrecord.co.uk:

Alex Salmond's body is set to be flown home by a private plane following days of diplomatic wrangling.The former first minister was attending a conference in North Macedonia last week when he suffered a fatal heart attack.Friends and political allies of Salmond have called for the RAF to fly his body home to the north-east of Scotland, but the Record understands this was rejected as he was a private citizen at the time of his death.Kate Forbes, the Deputy First Minister, has since been working with Scottish Government officials and the UK Foreign Office to find a resolution.The private plane charter has been organised by the Alba Party with assistance by Holyrood officials, with a "private individual" covering costs.No timeline for the repatriation has been announced but the flight is expected to land in Aberdeen.Salmond's family are understood to be planning a private funeral for the former SNP leader, with a larger public memorial service to take place later in the year.Kenny MacAskill, Alba Party acting leader, said: “The family are incredibly grateful for the support which is being provided by a private citizen to charter a private plane to allow Alex’s body to come home to Scotland."It brings a great deal of comfort to Moira and other members of the family to know that he will soon be home with them.

The family have asked that their privacy be respected at this time and will be making an announcement in due course about the funeral arrangements and a memorial service to honour the life of Alex Salmond.”MacAskill also expressed the Salmond family’s appreciation to the North Macedonian Government, for “expediting” the process of releasing Salmond’s body and the Scottish and UK governments for their work in securing