Alex Salmond lived in luxury £7,000 a month London apartment despite financial ruin
EXCLUSIVE: The former SNP leader had access to "world class" facilities in the Dumont block.
Alex Salmond was living in a £2.5m luxury apartment overlooking Big Ben despite being almost penniless when he died.
The former First Minister’s stunning £7,000 a month London pad included a swimming pool, sauna and bowling alley.
A source close to Salmond said the cash from his chat show on the Putin-backed RT channel helped pay for a three-bed apartment in the “world class” block.
Salmond, who was SNP First Minister for seven years, died in North Macedonia last year of a heart attack.
Reports over the weekend said he racked up huge costs while fighting to clear his name of sexual assault allegations in two court cases.
Lawyers who are winding up his financial affairs will apply to have a trustee in sequestration appointed, a process akin to declaring the estate bankrupt.
The Record can reveal Salmond, who led the rival pro-independence party Alba after quitting the SNP, lived in the opulent Dumont complex in central London.
Now on the market for £2.5m, an advertising blurb by Right Move gushes about the flat’s stunning vistas.
It says: “Nestled along the Albert Embankment in a prime location, this exciting modern three-bedroom apartment offers unique breath taking views of the river and the Houses of Parliament.
READ MORE: SNP Health Secretary Neil Gray apologises to Lanarkshire patients for NHS waiting timesREAD MORE: Rachel Reeves could scrap luxury cars from Motability scheme used by 80,000 Scots“Spanning an impressive 1,379 square feet, the property was built in 2020, ensuring that it boasts the latest in design and amenities.
“The apartment enjoys a spacious dining reception room that serves as the heart of the home, perfect for both relaxation and entertaining.
“This room has floor to ceiling panoramic views of one of the world's most influential and iconic buildings, the Houses of Parliament and Big Ben.”
It continues: “This apartment is not just a home; it is a lifestyle choice, offering the perfect balance of modern luxury and a prime location.”
The Right Move blurb said of the communal facilities in Dumont: “The property benefits from internal amenities that include a cinema, gym, bowling, swimming, sauna and 24 hrs concierge.”
The source close to Salmond said he moved in after covid and was there most weeks until his death:
“He loved the view and how central it was and the peace and quiet. Alex was a ‘work hard, play hard’ guy. He liked the stuff that he earned for himself in life.”
The insider said the rent was around £7,000 a month: “He just liked the practicalities of how central it was, the facilities and how easy it was to get to work.”
Another property website describes the Dumont as a “crown jewel” with “world class” facilities for residents.
A three bedroom flat in the block is currently being offered at a rental of £8,500 a month. Salmond's flat was rented and he did not own it.
Salmond quit the SNP amid a bitter falling out with Nicola Sturgeon after her Government launched an unlawful probe into sexual misconduct claims against him.
He was separately acquitted of sexual offence charges following a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Salmond’s relationship with Sturgeon also took a hit in 2017 when he fronted a political talk show on RT, which is funded by the Russian state.
The programme was produced by Slainte Media, the firm Salmond co-owned with Ahmed-Sheikh.
Salmond walked away from RT after Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022 and later presented another show on a Turkish channel.
The source said the earnings from the programmes funded the flat: “The RT gig was a really profitable venture. In terms of the cost of staying in hotels in London two or three times a week for him and his staff, it was probably not that much more of a jump for a central London pad. It made economical sense.”
A picture shows Salmond and Alba allies Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh and Chris McEleny in the flat on the night of the 2020 US presidential election between Joe Biden and Donald Trump.
The Alba leader is wearing a Biden baseball cap and a tee-shirt featuring the victorious Democratic candidate’s famous slap down of Trump: “Will you shut up man?”
Ahmed-Sheikh is wearing a Stars and Stripes dress while McEleny can be seen donning a Trump tee-shirt.
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