ASH Regan has said that Alex Salmond would have thought it made sense for her to replace him as Alba leader.
The former SNP MSP has entered the leadership contest along with the party’s acting leader Kenny MacAskill, with Regan telling The Herald he had told her he wanted to retire.
This has been disputed by MacAskill (below) ahead of the leadership contest, which is expected to take place in the next few weeks.
Speaking to The Herald, Regan said: “Alex actually told me last year that he wanted me to be the deputy leader of the party in August.
“We were supposed to be having a conference in November and he had asked me to consider putting myself forward for deputy leader.
“So I feel like Alex, and he certainly communicated this to me, thought that it was really important for the elected parliamentarian to be at a very senior level in the party.”
Regan also said that she would continue to be an Alba member should she lose the contest and said she would support MacAskill if he does become leader.
Asked specifically if she felt it was Salmond’s wish for her to take over as leader, Regan said: “I think Alex was a pragmatist and I think if he were here now he would be looking at who would be able to get the biggest platform for the party to take the party forward.
“It’s very hard to do that if you are not even in the parliament. Just for that reason alone, it makes sense.”
Regan also told the newspaper she was not expecting MacAskill to run for the leadership when they last met in person in December.
She added that “we thought Kenny was retiring” as she confirmed her “stretched target” for the 2026 election is 15 seats.
Responding to Regan’s comments, MacAskill said: "Conference was scheduled for November but was cancelled following Alex's (below) tragic death.
"I never discussed the leadership with him, but we were planning the campaign for Holyrood 2026 together.
"However, both historically and more recently I think it has been shown who was closest to Alex. Those nearest him have also confirmed that.
"I did meet with Ash in December when she advised me that she was running for the leadership. I advised that I hadn't made up my mind whether to stand.
"My focus and that of the party more widely then had been on supporting Moira and the family, as well as sorting out the arrangements internally brought about by Alex's tragic passing.
"I have since spoken with many in the party and it is with their support and encouragement that I am standing. My intention is to continue the drive for independence which has never been more needed and to pursue a radical agenda to mobilise support for it.
"Alex never discussed me standing down. Indeed, the assumption was entirely the opposite. We were friends and political allies until the very end. I know what he wanted."
Backing for MacAskill
Former MPs Angus MacNeil and Neale Hanvey joined Salmond’s widow Moira in backing MacAskill to become leader.
MacNeil told The Herald: “Kenny MacAskill is a fearless and powerful voice who can turn debates with his contributions, as he was seen on occasions at key moments, when he was in the SNP.
“Kenny’s main aim is independence, and like Alex Salmond, he doesn’t need position or title, but Scotland needs independence, and it needs people like Kenny MacAskill to drive it forward.
"Independence for Scotland is now a multi-party pursuit and that is good for democracy. All independent countries have internal policy disagreements, which is healthy, but they all agree on the basic fundamental need for independence. It is good for Scotland to have that also.
"However, we must work together in a common position prior to independence while maintaining plurality. That Kenny sees elections are now the only available route to independence and is willing to work with parties to ensure an 'aggregate vote' for independence, is a big plus.
"Kenny MacAskill is also the person to articulate how important it is not to waste pro-independence 'list votes' on the SNP, as happened in the 2021 and 2016 Scottish elections."
Hanvey (above) meanwhile, who had been an Alba MP until he lost his seat in last year’s election, said that his inspiration for joining the independence cause was the Alex Salmond-led government of 2007-11, of which MacAskill was a part.
“Of the minister in that team none rank higher in my estimation or admiration for their ability in office than Kenny MacAskill, he said.”
"It was Kenny who invited me to join Alba, and it has been both an honour and a pleasure to work at his side in recent years, and beyond Alex himself there is no more steadfast a champion of the cause of independence than Kenny."
Hanvey further added that the “threat of the Reform party looms large” but that the “only reform Scotland needs is independence”.
He said that the topic of independence has been “relegated to sound bites at elections without any meaningful action being taken to bring that dream into reality”.
The former MP continued: "Whilst we should be respectful to those who oppose our ambition for Scotland it is unconscionable that any part of our movement would choose to work with any unionist party before uniting the broad church of Scots who support independence and that must be our priority.
"We can’t allow 2026 to be a repeat of 2021 where unionist votes on the list were allowed to triumph over a million independence supporting votes.
"A vote for Alba on the list carries a much better chance of electing independence supporting MSPs and will keep the unionists at bay. Kenny has the experience, courage and conviction to unite and drive the movement forward, standing tall on issues of importance where many others fear to tread.
"Kenny was Alex’s depute for a reason. Alex knew that the best interests of the party and the proper interests of the people of Scotland would be safe in his hands should the worst happen.
"Sadly, the worst did indeed happen and, as I have done since the day we lost Alex, I give my fulsome and continuing support to Kenny as Alba Party Leader. Alex would have expected nothing less of me."
