The Press and Journal (Inverness, Highlands, and Islands)
Salmond claims he ‘feels for’ Sturgeon on decision to quit
Former first minister Alex Salmond has extended his sympathies to Nicola Sturgeon saying he “feels for her personally on the day of her resignation”.
The Alba Party chief said his former protege will leave power without an “obvious successor” and warned her referendum plans at the next election were “up in the air”.
However, he admitted she was a “first-rate political communicator”.
Ms Sturgeon succeeded Mr Salmond in the top job after the 2014 independence referendum and had worked closely alongside him as his deputy for seven years beforehand.
However, the two onetime allies had an explosive falling out due to the Scottish Government’s mishandling of sexual misconduct allegations against Mr Salmond years after he left office.
Since then, he has splintered from the SNP to form his own party and has been critical of Ms Sturgeon’s inability to secure a fresh independence vote.
The outgoing first minister wants to fight the next UK election on independence alone, but admitted yesterday the choice would not be hers to make.
Mr Salmond said: “There has been no question of Nicola’s talents as a firstrate political communicator and election winner and having been there I feel for her personally on the day of her resignation.
“There are two questions for the future.
“One is that the movement has been left with no clear strategy for independence.
“The previously accepted referendum route has been closed and the election proposal is now, at best, up in the air.
“Secondly there is no obvious successor.
“There are a range of able people in the SNP but they will now be tested in the fire of leadership inheriting a range of serious government policy challenges.”
The ex-first minister said he hopes the eventual victor in the upcoming SNP leadership contest will be a candidate who wants to “reunite the national movement” in the fight for independence.