Alex Salmond Statement on Nicola Sturgeon's Resignation

Commenting on Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation former First Minister Alex Salmond said:

“There has been no question of Nicola’s talents as a first rate 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 defacto referendum/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. It is to be hoped that those voices which wish to reunite the national movement emerge to win that contest.”