ALEX Salmond has accused the SNP’s national executive of attempting an establishment stitch-up, claiming that the five-week contest to find Nicola Sturgeon’s successor will favour the “old stagers” in the race
The former first minister has also thrown his weight behind Kate Forbes and Ash Regan.
Last night, following an online meeting the party's ruling NEC agreed to a quick timetable.
Nominations will close at noon next Friday, with the ballot running between March 13 to 27, 2023.
The winner will be announced, "as soon as the result has been determined and after the candidates have been advised."
Writing in the i newspaper, Salmond said his old party had “done their best to favour the establishment by opting for a ridiculously short timescale of next Friday for nominations.”
However, he said he believed “the new talent which will emerge the stronger.”
The Alba chief said the others would have to explain why they backed the Gender Recognition Reform Bill.
Denham resigned as a minister rather than vote for the legislation, while Forbes was on maternity leave as the proposed law made its way through Holyrood.
Salmond also said the candidates would have to set out their plans for securing independence.
“Those who have gone along with the Nicola Sturgeon strategy of a futile Supreme Court bid to okay a referendum followed by a plebiscite poll will struggle to explain how they could achieve this where Nicola failed," he wrote.
“Similarly, if, with all the renowned Sturgeon powers of communication, Nicola could not coherently explain the Cabinet position on Gender Recognition then what hope is there for a Robertson, a Brown or a Yousaf?”
Salmond rejected claims that Forbes being a follower of the Free Kirk would harm her chances.
“She is not asking anyone else to sign up to her church and the public might quite like a First Minister with a personal code of belief,” he said.
“Meanwhile, Ash Regan has already demonstrated one quality essential in a political leader – courage.
“She was the one Minister in Nicola Sturgeon’s government with the guts to say the Gender Bill was flawed and back her judgement with her job. Whether they are for, against or couldn’t care less about gender recognition, by and large people like their politicians to have a bit of principle and a touch of steel.
“If either, or both women step forward with a strategy on how to reinvigorate the independence case and bring the national movement back together, then the SNP grassroots may rally to their cause, whatever the “heid puddocks” in SNP HQ may want them to think.”
So far Yousaf is the only possible candidate to publicly say that they are giving "serious consideration" to enter the contest.
The father-of-two said he is now speaking to his family about whether he should put himself forward.
He said: “From my own perspective I am giving it serious consideration, why would you not? It is the top job in Scotland, it is a job you don’t get the opportunity to go for very often.
“On the flip side of that it can take a big toll on you personally, and on your family, and I have got to really speak to my family about whether this is the right thing for us as a collective unit.
“That discussion is ongoing and I will make my decision known in the coming days.”
Speaking during a visit to the New Victoria Hospital in Glasgow, Yousaf said a “lot of people” in his party have been “really encouraging” about the prospect of him standing, saying he is “grateful for that”.
That party support is “clearly a factor in any consideration”, he said, but he stressed it is “not the only factor”.
Yousaf said: “We are not just electing the leader of the SNP, which is really important, we are selecting who the next first minister of the entire country and nation will be.
“Whoever is putting their hat in the ring has got to give it that real, serious, deep, meaningful consideration, which is what I am doing.”
