John Swinney was booed at Alex Salmond's funeral (Image: PA/Getty)

       Scottish First Minister John Swinney was booed and called a "traitor" by a crowd gathered at a memorial service for former SNP and Alba leader Alex Salmond.

       Mr Swinney was making his way into St Giles' Cathedral in Edinburgh when he was shouted at by onlookers, including one person who said: "Shame on you."

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       Keir Starmer battered by new storm as petition exposes public anger over Labour 'lies'

       63 Comments

       Chaos at Alex Salmond memorial as SNP's John Swinney booed by mourners

       13 Comments

       Reform UK chief blasts Tories as 'architects of mass immigration'

       286 Comments

       Time for Britain to follow the Aussies and take kids offline

       5 Comments

       By-election chart shows sigh of relief for Tories as Reform delivers hammer blow to Labour

       3 Comments

       Rachel Reeves' 'tax on jobs' is about to see prices surge at supermarkets

       12 Comments

       Labour MP's family avoids Rachel Reeves' farming tax with move just days before Budget

       65 Comments

       Huge boost for Nigel Farage as two councillors defect for Reform UK

       146 Comments

       Now fund hospices says Archbishop as he backs assisted dying bill

       9 Comments

       Blitz on key-cloning tech to fight car theft

       3 Comments

       Fears England football teams could be banned from European competitions

       6 Comments

       Labour concerns brew after Keir Starmer's first globe-trotting 5 months in power

       175 Comments

       5 times Starmer called for softer immigration rules as Government blasts 'broken' system

       162 Comments

       Keir Starmer 'open' to Elgin Marbles deal with Greece as PM prepares for key meeting

       274 Comments

       SNP mocked as First Minister hints at early election months after Westminster annihilation

       17 Comments

       Nicola Sturgeon torn apart in brutal four-word verdict from Matt Hancock

       121 Comments

       Nicola Sturgeon tax avoidance row heats up as 'hypocritical' SNP under fire

       36 Comments

       Nicola Sturgeon under fire as she reveals new 2026 campaign

       42 Comments

       Nigel Farage could hold balance of power in Scotland after shock poll for SNP and Labour

       261 Comments

       SNP says ‘pregnant men' should have the same maternity rights as women

       19 Comments

       Keir Starmer battered by new storm as petition exposes public anger over Labour 'lies'

       63 Comments

       Chaos at Alex Salmond memorial as SNP's John Swinney booed by mourners

       13 Comments

       Reform UK chief blasts Tories as 'architects of mass immigration'

       286 Comments

       Time for Britain to follow the Aussies and take kids offline

       5 Comments

       By-election chart shows sigh of relief for Tories as Reform delivers hammer blow to Labour

       3 Comments

       Rachel Reeves' 'tax on jobs' is about to see prices surge at supermarkets

       12 Comments

       Labour MP's family avoids Rachel Reeves' farming tax with move just days before Budget

       65 Comments

       Huge boost for Nigel Farage as two councillors defect for Reform UK

       146 Comments

       Now fund hospices says Archbishop as he backs assisted dying bill

       9 Comments

       Blitz on key-cloning tech to fight car theft

       3 Comments

       Fears England football teams could be banned from European competitions

       6 Comments

       Labour concerns brew after Keir Starmer's first globe-trotting 5 months in power

       175 Comments

       5 times Starmer called for softer immigration rules as Government blasts 'broken' system

       162 Comments

       Keir Starmer 'open' to Elgin Marbles deal with Greece as PM prepares for key meeting

       274 Comments

       SNP mocked as First Minister hints at early election months after Westminster annihilation

       17 Comments

       Nicola Sturgeon torn apart in brutal four-word verdict from Matt Hancock

       121 Comments

       Nicola Sturgeon tax avoidance row heats up as 'hypocritical' SNP under fire

       36 Comments

       Nicola Sturgeon under fire as she reveals new 2026 campaign

       42 Comments

       Nigel Farage could hold balance of power in Scotland after shock poll for SNP and Labour

       261 Comments

       SNP says ‘pregnant men' should have the same maternity rights as women

       19 Comments

       Keir Starmer battered by new storm as petition exposes public anger over Labour 'lies'

       63 Comments

       Chaos at Alex Salmond memorial as SNP's John Swinney booed by mourners

       13 Comments

       Reform UK chief blasts Tories as 'architects of mass immigration'

       286 Comments

       Time for Britain to follow the Aussies and take kids offline

       5 Comments

       By-election chart shows sigh of relief for Tories as Reform delivers hammer blow to Labour

       3 Comments

       Rachel Reeves' 'tax on jobs' is about to see prices surge at supermarkets

       12 Comments

       Labour MP's family avoids Rachel Reeves' farming tax with move just days before Budget

       65 Comments

       Relations between Mr Salmond and senior SNP figures, including Mr Swinney and former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, soured before he left the party in 2018.

       Mr Salmond was in the process of taking legal action against the Scottish Government before he died in October after suffering a heart attack.

       Crowds of people gathered near the memorial service with Scottish flags being flown by many.

       READ MORE Alex Salmond remembered by family and friends at funeral [POLITICS]

       Crowds shouted at Mr Swinney outside the cathedral (Image: PA)

       Other high-profile attendees included former Prime Minister Gordon Brown, Deputy First Minister Kate Forbes, and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.

       Ms Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf, First Minister from March 2023 to May 2024, did not attend.

       Kenny MacAskill, now acting leader of Alba, the party that Mr Salmond also led before his death, paid tribute to his late colleague.

       Speaking at the service, he said Mr Salmond had been a "giant of man", "an inspiration, a political genius" and "most of all a man who had the cause of independence burned into his heart and seared in his soul."

       DON'T MISS

       Powered by

       Keir Starmer battered by new storm as petition exposes public anger over Labour 'lies'

       63 Comments

       Chaos at Alex Salmond memorial as SNP's John Swinney booed by mourners

       13 Comments

       Reform UK chief blasts Tories as 'architects of mass immigration'

       286 Comments

       Time for Britain to follow the Aussies and take kids offline

       5 Comments

       By-election chart shows sigh of relief for Tories as Reform delivers hammer blow to Labour

       3 Comments

       Rachel Reeves' 'tax on jobs' is about to see prices surge at supermarkets

       12 Comments

       Labour MP's family avoids Rachel Reeves' farming tax with move just days before Budget

       64 Comments

       Huge boost for Nigel Farage as two councillors defect for Reform UK

       146 Comments

       Now fund hospices says Archbishop as he backs assisted dying bill

       9 Comments

       Blitz on key-cloning tech to fight car theft

       3 Comments

       Fears England football teams could be banned from European competitions

       6 Comments

       Labour concerns brew after Keir Starmer's first globe-trotting 5 months in power

       175 Comments

       5 times Starmer called for softer immigration rules as Government blasts 'broken' system

       162 Comments

       Keir Starmer 'open' to Elgin Marbles deal with Greece as PM prepares for key meeting

       275 Comments

       SNP mocked as First Minister hints at early election months after Westminster annihilation

       17 Comments

       Nicola Sturgeon torn apart in brutal four-word verdict from Matt Hancock

       121 Comments

       Nicola Sturgeon tax avoidance row heats up as 'hypocritical' SNP under fire

       36 Comments

       Nicola Sturgeon under fire as she reveals new 2026 campaign

       42 Comments

       Nigel Farage could hold balance of power in Scotland after shock poll for SNP and Labour

       261 Comments

       SNP says ‘pregnant men' should have the same maternity rights as women

       19 Comments

       Keir Starmer battered by new storm as petition exposes public anger over Labour 'lies'

       63 Comments

       Chaos at Alex Salmond memorial as SNP's John Swinney booed by mourners

       13 Comments

       Reform UK chief blasts Tories as 'architects of mass immigration'

       286 Comments

       Time for Britain to follow the Aussies and take kids offline

       5 Comments

       By-election chart shows sigh of relief for Tories as Reform delivers hammer blow to Labour

       3 Comments

       Rachel Reeves' 'tax on jobs' is about to see prices surge at supermarkets

       12 Comments

       Labour MP's family avoids Rachel Reeves' farming tax with move just days before Budget

       64 Comments

       Huge boost for Nigel Farage as two councillors defect for Reform UK

       146 Comments

       Now fund hospices says Archbishop as he backs assisted dying bill

       9 Comments

       Blitz on key-cloning tech to fight car theft

       3 Comments

       Fears England football teams could be banned from European competitions

       6 Comments

       Labour concerns brew after Keir Starmer's first globe-trotting 5 months in power

       175 Comments

       5 times Starmer called for softer immigration rules as Government blasts 'broken' system

       162 Comments

       Keir Starmer 'open' to Elgin Marbles deal with Greece as PM prepares for key meeting

       275 Comments

       SNP mocked as First Minister hints at early election months after Westminster annihilation

       17 Comments

       Nicola Sturgeon torn apart in brutal four-word verdict from Matt Hancock

       121 Comments

       Nicola Sturgeon tax avoidance row heats up as 'hypocritical' SNP under fire

       36 Comments

       Nicola Sturgeon under fire as she reveals new 2026 campaign

       42 Comments

       Nigel Farage could hold balance of power in Scotland after shock poll for SNP and Labour

       261 Comments

       SNP says ‘pregnant men' should have the same maternity rights as women

       19 Comments

       Keir Starmer battered by new storm as petition exposes public anger over Labour 'lies'

       63 Comments

       Chaos at Alex Salmond memorial as SNP's John Swinney booed by mourners

       13 Comments

       Reform UK chief blasts Tories as 'architects of mass immigration'

       286 Comments

       Time for Britain to follow the Aussies and take kids offline

       5 Comments

       By-election chart shows sigh of relief for Tories as Reform delivers hammer blow to Labour

       3 Comments

       Rachel Reeves' 'tax on jobs' is about to see prices surge at supermarkets

       12 Comments

       Labour MP's family avoids Rachel Reeves' farming tax with move just days before Budget

       64 Comments

       Trending

       Anas Sarwar and Gordon Brown in attendance (Image: PA)

       SUBSCRIBE Invalid email

       We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy

       Scottish duo the Proclaimers sang the pro-Scottish independence song Cap In Hand.

       Brothers Craig and Charlie Reid said: "We're going to do this for Alex, with love and respect and eternal gratitude for everything you did for our country."

       Those in attendance later sang Flower of Scotland while crowds chanted: "Alex, Alex."