Salmond praises 'golden' MacCormick

FIRST Minister Alex Salmond has paid tribute to prominent Scottish Nationalist Professor Sir Neil MacCormick, describing him as the "gold standard" of politics.

Mr Salmond was among the speakers at the funeral of the former Edinburgh University law professor, who died of cancer last week.

More than 500 mourners packed in the Greyfriars Kirk in Edinburgh for yesterday's service.

Senior SNP politicians were among those who gathered to pay their last respects. Also present were former Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell, a childhood friend, and Baroness Smith, the widow of the late Labour leader John Smith.

Other mourners listened outside to the service, which was broadcast on speakers.

The First Minister said: "In a week, in a time and age of debased political currency, let us remind ourselves of how Prof Neil MacCormick represents the gold standard of political activity."