Kenny MacAskill, an Alba leadership contender, asserts that former First Minister Alex Salmond would have supported his bid. MacAskill expresses gratitude for Moira Salmond's endorsement while maintaining that Salmond was a victim of a conspiracy. He highlights the importance of achieving independence and criticizes Nicola Sturgeon for the SNP's current state.
An Alba leadership contender has claimed former First Minister Alex Salmond would have backed him in the contest. Kenny MacAskill also said he is “grateful” for the support of Salmond’s widow Moira in the battle against Ash Regan . He also insisted Salmond was the victim of a “conspiracy” aimed at putting him in jail. Pro-independence Alba was formed by Salmond after he quit the SNP over an unlawful sexual harassment probe by Nicola Sturgeon's government.
MacAskill, a former Justice Secretary, also joined Alba and he is going head-to-head with sitting MSP Regan to succeed Salmond after he died of a heart attack. In an interview, the former MP and MSP was asked if his former boss would have supported him: “Yes. Alex and I were close. I was there to support him and no doubt that would have been reciprocated.” Moira Salmond said recently that MacAskill “has my support and endorsement”. He said: “I was pleased. Alex was a great friend and she has suffered a grievous loss, given the length of marriage and time they spent together. She is a good woman and I am grateful for her support.” He added: “But this is the Alba party, not the Alex Salmond memorial party.” Alba has performed poorly in its short history and never came close to returning an MSP four years ago. MacAskill said the 2021 strategy of pro-independence voters backing the SNP on first-past-the-post and Alba on the regional lists would come good next year. He said the approach last time was marred by Nicola Sturgeon’s “obsession” with trying to thwart Salmond, adding: “Alex was a formidable politician, probably arguably the greatest of his generation and indeed for generations beyond. The situation is this is Alex’s strategy. The difference is the context has changed.” He said: “The logic of 2021 was correct. We go again in 2026.” The contest against Regan has been soured by leaked emails allegedly showing MacAskill had concerns about the use of party money when Salmond was Alba leader. MacAskill said the “leaks” are regrettable because he wants to talk about the benefits of independence: “Sadly we have had press stories from dissident individuals that have taken the focus away from that.” MacAskill said of his once-positive relationship with Sturgeon: “The SNP was very collegiate, the SNP that Alex Salmond built. We have to give him credit. That camaraderie has been lost and I hold Nicola responsible for that in terms of the actions she took.” He also claimed the allegations against Salmond, which he was also cleared of in a criminal trial, amounted to a “stab in the back”. MacAskill said: “I stand by the fact that this was a conspiracy.” Regan said at the weekend she is running on her record, which includes claims she brought down Sturgeon, and former party CEO Peter Murrell. On whether he agreed with Regan’s assessment of herself, he said: “It’s for Ash to stand by her own comments. I was delighted with the fall of Sturgeon. It wasn’t a moment too soon.” He also responded to claims by Regan that he and Neil Hanvey, who was also an Alba MP, had not “cut through” at Westminster: “I am proud of the record that Neil Hanvey and I had in our Westminster group of two. I achieved a great deal especially on energy and Neil pursuing issues relating to gender identity. I think our record speaks for itself.” He concluded: “My pitch to be leader is to deliver the dream and to continue building on Alex’s legacy. What I have the opportunity to do is reach out to the wider Yes movement through my broad links because at the end of the day what we have to do is galvanise the independence support.”
ALEX SALMOND KENNY MACASKILL ASH REGAN ALBA SNP NICOLA STURGEON INDEPENDENCE SCOTLAND
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