Alex Salmond successor hopefuls on bullying claims and working with Farage

Alex Salmond's Scottish independence party faces turmoil over bullying claims and questions over future relations with Nigel Farage after the former first minister's death.

The 69-year-old leader of the Alba party died of a heart attack in North Macedonia last year.

He brought Scotland to the brink of independence in 2014 before a bitter falling out with the SNP drove him to set up his own rival party.

But Alba has struggled to make a political breakthrough over the years, securing just 0.5% of the vote in the 2024 general election.

The contenders hoping to lead Alba into the high-stakes 2026 Scottish elections, Ash Regan and Kenny MacAskill, have sat down with Sky News as members prepare to vote.

The contest has been dominated by infighting and increasingly bitter divisions.

Mr MacAskill, a long-term colleague of Alex Salmond and current acting leader, is facing allegations of bullying and harassment by party general secretary Chris McEleny. The role is a paid post.

Mr McEleny was an aide to Salmond but was suspended over claims of "disobeying direct orders from the leadership".

Kenny MacAskill told Sky News that Alba's ruling body, in consultation with lawyers, has now sacked him.

He said: "He {Chris} has since been dismissed on gross misconduct and his membership of the party will be considered.

"The NEC has terminated his employment, and he has been notified of his dismissal for gross misconduct."

'Not a bully'

Chris McEleny revealed he would appeal against the decision and stands by the suggestion he was the victim of bullying.

"I think Kenny is going to look back in the near future and regret some of the actions of the previous months," he told Sky News.

"Alex Salmond used to always tell me that in a political party rational people need to bump along with each other.

"Sadly we have not seen people bumping along with each other when either means they have not been acting rationally, or it means they are not in a position that they are fit to lead a political party."

Asked by Sky News if he was a bully, Kenny MacAskill replied: "No".

He added: "Mr McEleny is causing a great deal of upset and distress to his [Salmond's] widow and to his family. I think he should cease and desist.

"At the time of Alex's death, I required to speak to him on behalf of the family because he was making comments. I had to tell him not to speak to the media in relation to the death of Alex Salmond."

Mr MacAskill has the backing of Mr Salmond's widow, Moira, but that does not appear to be putting off rival contender Ash Regan.

'Drifting and leaderless'

Ms Regan tried and failed to replace Nicola Sturgeon during the bitter SNP leadership contest in 2023 before later defecting to Mr Salmond's party.

She told Sky News: "Alba was struggling to cut through which is why I am saying we absolutely cannot continue the way we were."

Attacking Kenny MacAskill's acting leadership of Alba, she said: "It has allowed the party to drift. We are leaderless and it is descending in to a little bit of chaos right now."

Polls suggest Nigel Farage's Reform party are on course to secure seats in Edinburgh next year.

Questioned about whether Alba could work with Mr Farage, Ms Regan said: "If you are asking me if I would ever go into a collation with the Reform party in a formal basis then absolutely not.

"But if you are asking me would Alba be a constructive political force in the parliament working for the things that are important for the people of Scotland, then absolutely."

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Asked for clarity on whether that means talking to Nigel Farage on specific issues, she replied: "I would work with any party on a case by case basis if I felt it was the right thing for the people of Scotland."

Kenny MacAskill ruled out any discussions with Reform under any circumstances.

The winner will be announced next month in Edinburgh.

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