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Kenny MacAskill after being announced as the new leader of the Alba Party, at Lauriston Hall in Edinburgh. Former MP Kenny MacAskill and MSP Ash Regan both stood for the post of Alba Party leader following the death of Alex Salmond, March 26, 2025
KENNY MACASKILL has been elected to lead the Alba Party, pledging to deliver his predecessor Alex Salmond’s “dream of independence.”
The party was co-founded and led by the former first minister after his acrimonious departure from the SNP.
Following his sudden death at a conference in North Macedonia in October, a leadership election took place in which Mr MacAskill, an ex-MP and lifelong friend of Mr Salmond, defeated former SNP leadership contender and Alba MSP Ash Regan by 1,331 votes (52.3 per cent) to 1,212 (47.7 per cent).
After the announcement of his victory, the former Scottish justice secretary said: “This was an election brought about by the tragic passing of our founder Alex Salmond.
“He will never be forgotten, but the duty that now falls to me and all Alba Party members is to deliver his dream of independence.”
Former MP Neale Hanvey was elected to replace Mr MacAskill as Alba’s deputy leader with 77.8 per cent of the votes cast, far ahead of former SNP Inverclyde councillor Chris McEleny with 22.2 per cent.
