IT has now been revealed that the private donor paying to repatriate the body of Alex Salmond is Scottish businessman Sir Tom Hunter.
After a week of diplomatic and bureaucratic processes surrounding Salmond’s return, as well as conflicting media reports, the businessman said he was covering the cost because the former first minister and his family deserved the "dignity" of a private return home to Scotland.
In a statement released to the media by Hunter, it was also made clear that the flight was paid for personally by him, and not through his philanthropic foundation.
“Whilst he and I disagreed on some of his ambitions, Alex Salmond devoted his life to Scotland and the Scottish people and as such he, and importantly his family, deserved the dignity and privacy of a private return to the home of his birth,” Hunter said.
“Our deepest sympathy and thoughts are with his family at this time.”
After the news broke that a private citizen would repatriate the body of Salmond, supporters of the independence movement shared their discontent over the lack of government involvement, while others acknowledged the fact he was now a private citizen on a private visit to North Macedonia.
With no precedent, several had called for the RAF to return Salmond to Scotland, with people across the political spectrum calling for the UK Government to act.
Both Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes and former Tory MP David Davis lobbied the UK Government following Salmond's death over the use of the RAF.
Matthew Kilcoyne, a senior policy adviser at the Open Data Institute, wrote online that although he “loathed” some of Salmond’s politics, he thought it was “beyond pathetic to not extend the courtesy of an RAF repatriation to a former first minister of a British nation to the UK”.
LBC presenter Iain Dale said: “I very much hope the government will organise the repatriation of Alex Salmond from Northern Macedonia. Surely the RAF should be sent to take him back home to Scotland where he belongs.
“You don't have to be a nationalist to support this as being the right thing to do.”
Another said: “Sorry but disgusting that RAF not involved in repatriation of former leader Alex Salmond, hope ‘petty party politics’ isn’t reason.”
Following the news that a private citizen would pay, one person wrote: “On behalf of Scotland, I would like to extend my thanks to the private citizen where this Scottish Government have once again disgraced themselves in their refusal to bring back Alex.”
Another said: “Thanks to the 'private citizen'. What I want to know is what is wrong with @JohnSwinney and @scotgov? What a disgrace you are. Regardless of position or support, Alex Salmond is an ex first minister.”
Another argued that Salmond saved the RAF base at Lossiemouth and therefore “could be easily repatriated into Moray just miles from his home and family. Unforgivable.”
Some disagreed with the calls, stating: “I can think of no reason why Alex Salmond’s body should be repatriated by the RAF or even at taxpayers’ expense. He was on a private visit and should have adequate travel insurance.”
When I spoke to Chris McEleny, general secretary of Alba who travelled to North Macedonia to assist in the repatriation, he said: “He’s a former first minister of Scotland and someone that means a lot to people in Scotland.
“I just don't see how it can be logical that you can have the King of the country praising Alex Salmond's fair years of public service, along with the Prime Minister and everyone, but he's to somehow wait a matter of weeks in a foreign land to then try and find his way back via commercial airlines.
“I just don't think that's fitting and it's not appropriate.”
The flight will arrive in Scotland on Friday, with members of Salmond's family and the acting leader of the Alba Party, Kenny MacAskill, set to meet it in Aberdeen.
A statement from Alba said: "The private plane which has been chartered to bring Alex Salmond home will leave Ohrid St Paul the Apostle Airport (OHD) at an estimated time of departure of 11:00 hrs (North Macedonia) landing in Aberdeen Airport (ABZ) at an expected time of arrival of 13:45 hrs.
"The carrier is Airline AIR X. The aircraft is an Embraer Legacy 600. The Aircraft registration is 9H-JPC. The Flight number: AXY4769."
A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “The loss of a loved one is a difficult time for any family, made more complex when they have passed away overseas.
"Over the last few days the Scottish Government and UK Government have been engaging with Alex Salmond‘s family and working closely together in accordance with their wishes, to ensure the swift and dignified repatriation of the former first minister to Scotland.
“Having explored a number of options, the family have now made arrangements for this to take place with the support of a private citizen.
“The Scottish Government continues to engage with Salmond‘s family, and we stand ready to offer further advice and support, should it be required.”
A UK Government spokesperson said: “We are providing consular support to the family of Alex Salmond following his death in North Macedonia, and are in contact with the local authorities and Scottish Government.”
