ALEX Salmond’s niece has announced plans to run in his place in the 2026 Holyrood elections.
Christina Hendry has said she will stand in the Banffshire and Buchan Coast constituency, where the late Alba leader had previously announced his intention to stand for the Scottish Parliament.
Hendry currently works in child psychology in the Scottish Borders but was born in Peterhead and spent the early years of her life in Cruden Bay.
She will be running for Alba against the SNP incumbent Karen Adam. Adam won the seat in 2021 after beating the Tory candidate by around 800 votes. Alba did not stand in the constituency.
“The reception he received on his final journey from Aberdeen Airport to Fraserburgh was incredibly moving, it is clear people in the north east held him in such high regard —and rest assured he felt the same about the people in the north east.
“I want to honour his name and his legacy and stand in the constituency he announced earlier this year. In doing so, the people of Banffshire and Buchan Coast will be able to vote for a candidate with independence and Salmond blood running through their veins.
“It’s clear to me that the north east, and Aberdeenshire in particular, has been neglected by both Governments. Our oil industry has powered the UK economy for decades yet I see little in return for these communities.
“That same industry is under attack now from both the Scottish Government and the UK Governments – putting at risk tens of thousands of highly skilled and well paid jobs. We all know that once these skills are gone, they’re gone for good.
“Despite the promises made by Nigel Farage and the Leave campaign, Brexit has weakened our fishing industry and now our farmers are facing an uncertain future following Starmer’s inheritance tax grab.
“No other political party seems to be putting the interests of the north east first – that’s something my uncle Alex always did, and I will endeavour to do the same.”
