There is “no obvious successor” to Nicola Sturgeon, former first minister Alex Salmond has said.

The Alba Party leader told Sky News he was surprised at his successor’s shock resignation and he feels for her personally despite difficulties in their relationship in recent years.

Her “undoing” as first minister wasn’t down to a single issue, he added.

He said: “There’s a multitude of problems just now in terms of policy delivery in Scotland.”

Mr Salmond highlighted the recent controversy surrounding the debate around self-ID and the Scottish government’s Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, which was blocked by the UK government.

He described it as a major “misstep”, noting: “Because it was legislation which quite easily you could detect flaws in it to say the very least.”

Mr Salmond also cited the delay of the dualling of the A9, “mounting problems” in health and education, and a “looming difficulty” over the bottle deposit return scheme as potential issues that may have led to Ms Sturgeon’s decision.

However, he said: “But none of these things are things that you don’t normally cope with.”

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

‘It’s certainly a surprise to me’

Mr Salmond and Ms Sturgeon, 52, were once close political allies.

He expressed warm feelings about her abilities after her resignation announcement, despite a falling out in recent years over sexual assault allegations against him, of which he was cleared in 2020.

He explained that when politicians run into a problem, they would normally “clear the decks”, tackle it and move on.

He said: “Especially since her policy was to have a de facto referendum next year in the general election. And you would think that would be your moment – you’d either win or lose it – it would be your moment for stepping down.

“So, I think it’s a surprise to most people, it’s certainly a surprise to me.”

During her resignation speech, Ms Sturgeon denied reacting to “short-term pressures” after a series of political setbacks.

Mr Salmond, who served as FM from 2007 until defeat in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, said Ms Sturgeon was “very good at winning elections”.

He stated that another of Ms Sturgeon’s big achievements is her political talent as a communicator.

Mr Salmond said: “I mean she was a superb political communicator and that was shown up in the pandemic.

“You know, there was pretty clear messaging from Scotland and much less clear messaging from Downing Street, so I think that was her, I would say, biggest achievement.”

Read more:
Sturgeon’s shock announcement
Sturgeon survived ‘cesspit of vipers’ but failed to achieve dream
The controversies which piled pressure on Sturgeon
Who are the runners and riders to replace her?

Be the first to get Breaking News

Install the Sky News app for free

Mr Salmond now hopes an independence convention will be established – made up of supporters and members of different political parties – to get the indyref “show meaningfully back on the road”.

He said there’s “no obvious successor” but whoever takes over from Ms Sturgeon must try to separate the business of the Scottish government from the cause of independence.

Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player

‘I feel for Nicola personally’

Mr Salmond said: “I feel for Nicola personally today because I’ve been there. I’ve been at that point of resignation but Nicola was the obvious successor back in 2014.”

A number of possible candidates to become the new SNP leader have been named, including finance secretary Kate Forbes, health secretary Humza Yousaf, deputy first minister John Swinney and Angus Robertson, the current culture and external affairs secretary.

Mr Salmond said Ms Forbes, who is currently on maternity leave, seems like an “incredibly able young woman” and will have had the “advantage of distance” from some of the Scottish government’s recent “difficulties”.

He added: “I would say it’s more likely to be somebody from the new generation than the previous Nicola generation.”

Related posts:

I have always had the highest admiration for the Queen, says Johnson Looking at use of COVID passports ‘only the right thing to do’, says vaccines minister Students to continue to wear face masks in lessons into summer term Sturgeon warns PM not to block indyref2 – as SNP hopes for majority fade Salmond admits he may not lead Alba much longer after disappointing election results Williamson removed as education secretary as PM reshuffles his cabinet ministers PM’s new team has opportunity for real change – as it grapples with legacy of pandemic COVID public inquiry to be chaired by former appeal court judge Baroness Hallett Increasing number of Omicron patients going into hospital a ‘nailed on prospect’ Chris Whitty warns Rayner says ‘misogynistic’ Mail on Sunday article was also ‘steeped in classism’ Liz Truss says she will ‘absolutely’ not cut public spending – as top Tory suggests chancellor should consider more U-turns Truss should watch out – many of her own MPs want her gone