CHRIS McEleny has announced he will stand to become the next deputy leader of the Alba Party.
One of late leader Alex Salmond's top lieutenants in the party, McEleny claimed that "nobody" in Alba had "as close of an understanding of the strategy Alex and I were developing" for the next Holyrood election.
McEleny was temporarily suspended as general secretary of the party after a failed bid to block leadership contender Kenny MacAskill (below) from attending party meetings.
He had previously announced he would quit the position after the election of Salmond's successor.
Allies of the former Inverclyde councillor, who is backing Ash Regan for the top job, contended the infighting showed there was a "clear and co-ordinated" attempt to remove McEleny from his role.
Describing the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections as "crucial for Alba Party’s future" and for the wider independence movement, McEleny (below) said: "We must see action on independence now or else another generation of Scottish resources will be asset stripped by the Westminster Government."
He added: "Nobody in Alba Party had as close of an understanding of the strategy Alex and I were developing to ensure a massive Alba intervention at the next Scottish Parliament election.
"That is why I am running to be the next depute leader as I am the best-placed candidate with the ability to run an election campaign that will deliver the success Alex Salmond knew we could achieve.
"It’s time to focus on the prize and come together to get more Alba MSPs elected to Holyrood to join our Holyrood leader Ash Regan MSP so that we can drive forward the cause of Scottish independence.”
