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Regan aiming to succeed Salmond as Alba leader

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Ash Regan is Alba's sole representative in the Scottish Parliament

Alba MSP Ash Regan has announced her intention to succeed Alex Salmond as party leader.

Regan told the Scotsman she hoped to lead Alba to an electoral "breakthrough".

The former SNP minister is the party's sole representative at Holyrood.

Salmond, Alba founder and ex-first minister of Scotland, died suddenly aged 69 in October.

Regan said she expected any leadership contest to take place "in the next few weeks".

She told the Scotsman: "This is a really exciting time for Alba because there was some polling a couple of weeks ago showing us making an electoral breakthrough and winning three seats.

"I believe, with the right leadership, this can be exceeded and we can win even more seats and become the kingmakers of the next government.

"This is a huge opportunity for Alba."

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Former SNP leader Alex Salmond set up the Alba Party in 2021

Regan defected from the SNP to Alba in October 2023 following a failed bid to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as party leader.

She said her experience of a leadership contest "has stood me in good stead".

The MSP added: "I've done TV leadership debates, which was a very good experience for me."

Following Salmond's death, Alba deputy leader and former SNP justice secretary Kenny MacAskill became acting leader.

He is expected to remain in the temporary role until the party chooses new office bearers at a rearranged party conference in March.

Alba general secretary Chris McEleny, another former SNP politician, has announced he will stand down to ensure Salmond's successor is "free to run the party differently".

He said he is looking forward to the 2026 Holyrood election and "helping lead the first ever Alba group of MSPs into the Scottish Parliament".