‘A big heart’: Tributes paid to late MSP Alex Johnstone.

Popular politician passes away after short illness

Alex Johnstone, the Scottish Conservative MSP who represented the North East of Scotland since the Scottish Parliament began in 1999, has died after a short illness. He was 55.

Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson led tributes to Mr Johnstone, saying he “embodied politics at its best”.

Born in Kincardineshire in 1961 and educated at Mackie Academy in Stonehaven, Mr Johnstone spent his entire life in the north-east of Scotland, as a dairy and arable farmer.

Elected at the age of 38, he brought his considerable experience in Scotland’s rural economy to the parliament, initially as its first convener of the rural development committee.

In the last parliament, he served on the parliament’s welfare reform committee. He was also appointed the party’s spokesman for infrastructure, housing and transport, a role he continued after May’s election.

Ms Davidson said: “Alex’s passing is an enormous loss for the Scottish Conservative Party, for the Scottish Parliament, and for Scottish public life generally.

“He was a big man with a big heart. He embodied politics at its best: trenchant in his views, always up for a political fight, but respected and admired by all sides of the political divide for his decency and generosity.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said: “Holyrood has lost one of its most wellknown and well-liked parliamentarians, and he will be sorely missed.”

Outside of politics, Mr Johnstone was a devoted husband to his wife of 35 years, Linda. There are two children and six grandchildren.

He was a big man with a big heart.

SCOTTISH CONSERVATIVES LEADER RUTH DAVIDSON

Alex, left, was a well-liked member of the Scottish Parliament. Top: Sharing a cupcake with Jim Eadie MSP during the referendum build-up. Above: On his farm in the Mearns.