Ash Regan on Alba leadership bid and following in Salmond's footsteps

Ash Regan outside the Scottish Parliament.

Less than two years ago, Ash Regan was bidding to become SNP leader and first minister of Scotland.

Instead, when Nicola Sturgeon stood down in March 2023, it was Humza Yousaf who won the race to replace her. Now Regan is hoping to lead the Alba Party, the breakaway group set up by Sturgeon’s former mentor Alex Salmond.

Despite being the lone Alba MSP, Regan has made an impact at Holyrood and on Scottish politics.

Alba’s sole MSP

It was her vote of no confidence in Patrick Harvie over his comments on the Cass Report into gender care for children which sparked the end of the SNP’s Bute House agreement with the Greens last April, leading to the demise of Yousaf as first minister.

For over 20 years, a succession of attempts failed to bring in new prostitution legislation to criminalise punters and those who prey on vulnerable women.

And while she was unable to get her Prostitution Bill over the line as an SNP minister, as lone Alba MSP, Regan has won the required backing of other MSPs for the Bill.

Regan said: “I’m delighted to have such support and will work hard to see the Bill finally come to fruition.

“We want to offer women a way out of the sex industry, to have past convictions erased and support so they can change their lives.”

Alba post-Salmond

The sudden death of Salmond has been a devastating blow to Alba and those who followed him. For Regan, the sadness is palpable. She is in no doubt he would have stood for election to Holyrood in 2026.

She said: “He would have relished that fight. It is sad he never got the chance.

“I know he will be up there, somewhere, urging Alba on. We believe 2026 will be a huge opportunity to make our presence felt like never before.”

Ash Regan finished third behind Kate Forbes and winner Humza Yousaf in the 2023 SNP leadership contest.

Polls predict Alba will win 1-2% of the vote next year but Regan will hope her leadership might increase the party’s chances of having its own MSPs elected for the first time.

She said: “Walking in the footsteps of a political titan like Alex Salmond would be a daunting task for anyone. I think I should concentrate on making footsteps of my own.”

Referendum policy

Taking on former SNP colleagues holds no fear for Regan, who enjoys her reputation as an “instigator”.

It was Regan who implored the SNP government to take up Alba’s new referendum policy asking that the people of Scotland be consulted on whether the Scottish Parliament’s powers should be extended to allow it to legislate for independence.

The strategy, launched in December 2023, was Salmond’s brainchild. Regan said: “If the SNP had been really serious about independence, they would have taken it up as it could have led the way for a second referendum.

“The fact that they didn’t made it clear to me that they have no bold strategy for independence. They wheel out independence when they are looking for votes, but there is no competent plan to achieve it.”

And she finds Sturgeon’s attacks on Salmond repugnant, particularly as they have deeply affected his 87-year-old widow Moira, who has not given interviews in decades but issued a public statement defending her late husband last weekend.

Regan said: “Her comments about Alex being difficult are ironic given Sturgeon’s own behaviour, but I know she has a book and comedy tour to get some publicity for. I’ve hardly seen her at Holyrood for weeks. She’s still getting her MSP’s salary. The public deserve better than that.

“I wouldn’t have any problem with anyone scrutinising how often I turn up for work. I question why the government want to keep that a secret.”