Kenny MacAskill has pledged to deliver Alex Salmond’s “dream of independence” for Scotland after being elected as the new leader of the Alba Party.

Former first minister Mr Salmond founded the party after leaving the SNP and his death last year left it searching for a new leader.

Acting leader Mr MacAskill won the leadership contest with 1,331 votes (52.3%), the party announced at an event in Edinburgh on Wednesday.

The former MSP and MP beat rival candidate MSP Ash Regan, who secured 1,212 votes (47.7%).

The contest was triggered after Mr Salmond, 69, died of a heart attack while attending a conference in North Macedonia in October.

Following his election, Mr MacAskill 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.”

Read more:
10th anniversary of the Scottish independence referendum

Neale Hanvey was elected to replace Mr MacAskill as depute leader, winning 77.8% of votes cast to the 22.2% which went to challenger Chris McEleny.

The Alba Party was set up by Mr Salmond in the lead up to the 2021 Holyrood election. No party candidate has been elected at the ballot box.

Mr MacAskill, a former SNP justice secretary, defected to Alba in 2021 while serving as MP for East Lothian.

He contested the Alloa and Grangemouth seat at last year’s general election but lost out to Labour’s Brian Leishman.

Mr Hanvey also defected from the SNP to Alba in 2001 while MP for Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath.

He stood for the renamed Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy constituency in the 2024 general election but was defeated by Labour’s Melanie Ward.