When reports emerged about his previous time in Scottish Labor after joining the SNP, he responded: “I’m not an opportunist, I want to work with whoever will serve Scotland.”

In a show of support for his new colleague, Salmond said it was “nonsense and nonsense” for his political opponents to focus on his past party membership.

The two families continue to support each other as preparations are made for Salmond’s funeral.

“This is very difficult for all of us,” Ahmed-Sheikh said. “Everyone who was close to Alex knew Alex, worked with Alex, because he was more important to us than anything else.

“From my perspective, it was politics, it was business… it was absolutely everything.

“My comfort came from my family and Alex’s family and as a very tight team we are finding our way through this and that’s what we’re going to do.”