2025 Alba Party leadership election

2025 Alba Party leadership election
26 March 2025
Turnout2,543 (50.8%)[1]
 
Candidate Kenny MacAskill Ash Regan
Popular vote 1,331 1,212
Percentage 52.3% 47.7%
Leader before election

Kenny MacAskill (acting)
Alex Salmond

 Elected Leader

Kenny MacAskill

The 2025 Alba Party leadership election took place on 26 March 2025 to elect the leader of the Alba Party following the death of Alex Salmond on 12 October 2024.[2] Kenny MacAskill was elected, defeating Ash Regan 52.3% to 47.7%.[3] Over 2,500 votes were cast out of 5,002 eligible Alba Party members.[1]

Background

The Alba Party is a pro independence party which broke away from the Scottish National Party.[4][5] The party gained prominence when the SNP–Green coalition broke down in early 2024.[6] The party defined itself as advocating a more radical strategy for independence.[7] The party contested the 2021 Scottish Parliament election and the 2024 United Kingdom general election but won no seats.[8] Following the death of Alex Salmond, the future of the party looked uncertain.[9] The party has reportedly been affected by internal conflict since his death.[10]

Ahead of the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, the Alba Party made some gains in opinion polling.[11][12] One poll put them on 7% of the list vote, under which they would be predicted to receive eight list MSPs.[13] In this scenario, Alba would be projected to be part of a pro-independence majority in the parliament.[14][15]

Schedule

Alba general secretary Chris McEleny announced he would stand down to ensure Salmond's successor would be "free to run the party differently".[16] He stood for deputy leader[17][18] despite being suspended from the party for "gross misconduct".[19] The other candidate for deputy leader is former MP for Kirkaldy and Cowdenbeath Neale Hanvey.[20]

Nominations to stand for leader and deputy leader of the party closed on 2 March.[21] The leadership election is expected to conclude at their party conference in March.[22] Party members will vote for the new leadership.[21] The new leader and deputy leader will be announced on 26 March ahead of the party conference in Edinburgh from 28 to 29 March.[21]

Candidates

Candidate Offices held at the time of the election Constituency Former ministerial offices Ref.
Ash Regan Leader of the Alba Party in the Scottish Parliament
(2023–present) 		Member of the Scottish Parliament
for Edinburgh Eastern (2016–present) 		Minister for Community Safety (2018–2022) [23]
Kenny MacAskill Depute Leader of the Alba Party

(2021–present)

Acting Leader of the Alba Party
(2024–present)

Member of Parliament (2019–2024)
Member of the Scottish Parliament (1999–2016) 		Cabinet Secretary for Justice (2007–2014) [24]

Campaign

The rivalry between Regan and MacAskill was described as a "rancorous contest".[25]

If elected Ash Regan said she intended to work with any party on a case-by-case basis.[26] Kenny MacAskill ruled out any discussions with Reform UK under any circumstances.[27]

Regan argued Nicola Sturgeon did "massive damage to the cause of Scottish independence".[28] MacAskill was considered politically closer to Salmond.[29]

Debates

On 6 March 2025, MacAskill and Regan took part in a televised debate on STV hosted by Colin Mackay.[30] On 6 March, an online hustings was hosted by The National.[31]

On 8 March, MacAskill and Regan attended a hustings in Glasgow chaired by former SNP MSP Mike MacKenzie.[32]

On 16 March, the final in-person hustings was held in Inverness.[20]

Endorsements

Kenny MacAskill

  • Moira Salmond,[33] wife of previous leader Alex Salmond

Results

Kenny MacAskill was elected, defeating Ash Regan 52.3% to 47.7%.[34] Neale Hanvey was elected deputy.[35] He beat Chris McEleny with 77.8% of votes cast to 22.2%.[36] After the result McEleny threatened legal action over his dismissal.[37]

References

  1. ^ a b Brown, Hannah (26 March 2025). "MacAskill wins Alba leadership following Salmond's death". The Herald (Glasgow). Retrieved 22 May 2025.
  2. ^ Morrison, Hamish (2025-01-19). "Alba face first leadership contest – but can they survive without Alex Salmond?". The National. Archived from the original on 19 January 2025. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  3. ^ Cochrane, Angus (2025-03-26). "Kenny MacAskill succeeds Alex Salmond as Alba leader". BBC News. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  4. ^ Heffer, Greg (26 March 2021). "Alex Salmond becomes leader of new pro-independence Alba Party ahead of Scottish elections". Sky News. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  5. ^ "Who is Alex Salmond?". BBC News. 2024-06-06. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  6. ^ Delaney, James (2024-04-28). "Alex Salmond sets out Alba demands ahead of Humza Yousaf talks". BBC News. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  7. ^ Bussey, Katrine (2024-06-25). "Salmond: Alba Party is 'natural home' for supporters of independence". The Independent. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  8. ^ Robertson, Adam (5 July 2024). "Alba lose deposit in ALL seats where candidates stood in General Election". The National. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
  9. ^ McCurdy, Rebecca (2024-10-20). "Alex Salmond's death signals the end of the Alba Party, pollster says". The Herald. Archived from the original on 20 October 2024. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  10. ^ McCurdy, Rebecca (2025-03-10). "Salmond's Alba successor to be chosen soon - but not before party civil war". The Herald. Retrieved 2025-03-11.
  11. ^ "ALBA Party welcomes further signs of poll breakthrough, amid Independence polling strength". ALBA. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  12. ^ Sanderson, Daniel (2025-02-16). "Scottish Labour heading for worst election result in history of devolution, poll finds". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Archived from the original on 16 February 2025. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  13. ^ Quinn, Andrew (2025-02-02). "SNP to be biggest party at Holyrood election as Scottish Labour to lose seats". Daily Record. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  14. ^ Elliards, Xander (2024-12-30). "Scots to elect large pro-independence majority in 2026 Holyrood vote, poll finds". The National. Archived from the original on 30 December 2024. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  15. ^ Walker, James (2024-06-17). "Alba Party on course to win seats in Scotland at Holyrood election – new poll". The National. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  16. ^ "Ash Regan aiming to succeed Alex Salmond as Alba leader". BBC News. 2025-01-09. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  17. ^ Amery, Rachel (2025-02-18). "Alba Party: Chris McEleny to stand for deputy leader despite suspension". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 19 February 2025. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  18. ^ McCracken, Gordon (2025-02-19). "Ex Gourock councillor plans Alba deputy leader bid despite party suspension". Greenock Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  19. ^ Amery, Rachel (2025-02-05). "Chris McEleny suspended as Alba general secretary for 'gross misconduct'". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 5 February 2025. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  20. ^ a b "Leadership Hustings: Inverness". ALBA. Retrieved 2025-03-11.
  21. ^ a b c Amery, Rachel (2025-03-03). "Alba confirms the party's final leadership candidates - here's how members can vote". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  22. ^ "Salmond planned Independence town - Alba Party candidate". BBC News. 2025-02-21. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  23. ^ Amery, Rachel (2025-01-09). "Ash Regan on why she will bid to succeed Alex Salmond as Alba leader". The Scotsman. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  24. ^ Amery, Rachel (2025-01-20). "Why Kenny MacAskill has entered the race to succeed Alex Salmond as Alba leader". The Scotsman. Archived from the original on 20 January 2025. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  25. ^ "'2026 election is make or break for Alba'". The Herald. 2025-03-15. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
  26. ^ "Alba leadership campaign hit by bulling claims as Regan says she'd work with Reform UK". Sky News. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  27. ^ Gillies, Connor (27 February 2025). "Alex Salmond successor hopefuls on bullying claims and working with Farage". Sky News. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  28. ^ McKenna, Kevin (2025-03-15). "My resignation was beginning of the end for Nicola Sturgeon, says Alba's Ash Regan". The Herald. Archived from the original on 15 March 2025. Retrieved 2025-03-15.
  29. ^ Young, Gregor (2025-01-26). "Leaked emails reveal Kenny MacAskill's concerns over Alex Salmond's Alba". The National. Retrieved 2025-03-16.
  30. ^ Scott, Kevin (2025-03-03). "Ash Regan and Kenny MacAskill to face off in Alba leadership debate". STV News. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  31. ^ Walker, James (2025-03-07). "Alba leadership candidates address party infighting and bullying allegations". The National. Archived from the original on 7 March 2025. Retrieved 2025-03-08.
  32. ^ Pizzuto-Pomaco, Josh (2025-03-04). "Alba leader candidates to face off on Saturday". Glasgow Standard. Retrieved 2025-03-04.
  33. ^ "Kenny MacAskill to challenge Ash Regan for Alba leadership". BBC News. 2025-01-20. Retrieved 2025-02-27.
  34. ^ VanReenen, Danyel (2025-03-26). "Former MP Kenny MacAskill narrowly wins Alba Party leadership race". STV News. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  35. ^ Elliards, Xander; Pollock, Laura (2025-03-26). "Kenny MacAskill narrowly beats Ash Regan to be elected Alba leader". The National. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  36. ^ "New Alba Party leader Kenny MacAskill vows to 'deliver dream of independence'". Sky News. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
  37. ^ "Former Alba official threatens legal action over dismissal as new leader elected". The Northern Echo. 2025-03-26. Retrieved 2025-03-26.
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