Trustee Appointed to Handle Salmond's 'Effective Bankruptcy'
A trustee in sequestration has been formally appointed to manage the estate of former Scottish First Minister Alex Salmond, confirming what has been described as an 'effective bankruptcy' situation following his death in October 2024.
The appointment was confirmed on Friday 7 November 2025, with Kenny Craig, a chartered accountant and insolvency practitioner at corporate recovery firm Begbies Traynor, named to handle the complex process.
Complex Legal and Financial Situation
Mr Craig's appointment as trustee followed an application made to the Accountant in Bankruptcy insolvency service by Mr Salmond's widow, Moira. This legal step became necessary due to the substantial costs of court actions pursued by the former first minister during his later life.
The situation is particularly complicated because at the time of his death, Mr Salmond had ongoing legal proceedings seeking damages against the Scottish Government - the very institution he once led.
Thomas McKay, managing partner for Begbies Traynor in Scotland, described it as an 'unusual and complex appointment', noting the particular challenges presented by 'ongoing legal proceedings by a high-profile individual against the Scottish Government'.
Background of Legal Battles
The financial pressures on Mr Salmond's estate stem from extensive legal actions in his final years. He had previously successfully sued the Scottish Government, winning £512,000 after courts found the process for handling harassment complaints against him by civil servants was 'tainted with apparent bias'.
In a separate case, Mr Salmond was acquitted of sexual misconduct charges at the High Court in Edinburgh. The winding-up of his estate will now involve assessing the value of all assets, including rights of action raised against the Scottish Government.
Mr Salmond died after suffering a heart attack while attending an event in North Macedonia in October 2024. The trustee has pledged to manage the sequestration 'as respectfully and sensitively as possible' given the circumstances.
