ASH Regan and Kenny MacAskill have secured places on the Alba leadership ballot after reaching the nominations threshold.
The two candidates both said on Monday morning that they had received enough nominations to formally launch their leadership bids after nominations opened on Sunday.
Regan said her pitch to members would be focused on the cost of living crisis, energy and women’s rights.
She said that Alba would “continue to be an uncompromising and unapologetic pro independence party” under her leadership.
The late former leader of the party Alex Salmond (below) had aimed at picking up 15 Holyrood seats, a goal Regan said the party would need to “move faster” if it wanted to achieve.
She added: “We need to meet the electorate where they are, speak to their priorities, and show them that independence isn’t just an idea – it’s a plan for a better Scotland.
“A Scotland where people have more money in their pockets. A Scotland where women and children’s rights are protected and respected.
“A Scotland where our resources – our energy, our wealth, our future – belong to us, not Westminster. These are the issues Alba Party will campaign on if I am elected as the next party leader and they are the issues that will deliver electoral success for our party and progress towards independence.”
MacAskill said he had reached the nominations threshold and told The National: “I’m going to build on the legacy left to us by Alex Salmond, continue to build and to work with the grassroots Yes movement as I’ve done over the years.”
The race has descended into chaotic infighting among party members.
Regan backer Chris McEleny (above) has been suspended for alleged “gross misconduct”.
The former general secretary of the party was rebuked for issuing a press release which supported Donald Trump visiting Scotland if it brought economic benefits and for giving the “false and unsupported impression” that Alba backed the Tory position of blocking asylum seekers in Scotland from getting free bus travel.
McEleny attempted to have MacAskill suspended for “allegations of bullying and harassment” though he was overruled by the party.
MacAskill had also been accused of “alluding that senior Alba Party members were fascist” as a result of his criticism of Regan’s invitation to Elon Musk to have him open a Tesla factory in Scotland.
Nominations for leader and deputy leader are open until March 2 and candidates must receive at least 100 nominations from a minimum of 20 local authority areas across Scotland.
Voting opens on March 10 and closes 15 days later. The new Alba leader will be announced on March 26.
