Alex Salmond is a Scottish politician who served as the First Minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014. He is a member of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and played a significant role in advocating for Scottish independence. Salmond was first elected to the House of Commons in 1997 and later became the leader of the SNP. In 2014, Salmond led the campaign for the Scottish independence referendum, where voters ultimately chose to remain part of the United Kingdom. After stepping down as First Minister, he continued to be active in politics and media, contributing to discussions on Scotland's future and governance.