Salmond claims Westminster support for leadership bid
Alex Salmond, who is attempting to become leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) for the second time, has unveiled backing from all of the party’s MPs.
Mr Salmond resigned the leadership of the SNP in 2000 after ten years in charge, saying he believed the time was right to hand over the baton. However, in a surprise move last week, Mr Salmond announced that he would be running for the leadership again.
As Mr Salmond does not have a Holyrood seat, he is running on a dual ticket with Nicola Sturgeon, who would lead the party in the Scottish Parliament, whilst Mr Salmond runs affairs from Westminster where he is currently party leader.
Speaking at a press conference Mr Salmond revealed that all of the SNP’s MPs will be backing his campaign.
His comments came as a number of Sunday newspapers published surveys showing that the former leader commands significant support among party activists.
Mr Salmond said: “I have been delighted to receive the backing of members of the SNP the length and breadth of Scotland. However it is always pleasing to receive the support of your closest colleagues.
“It is a strong SNP team who have provided the real opposition to the Blair government and I look forward to continuing with the hard work.”
The other SNP representatives in the Commons are Annabelle Ewing, Angus Robertson, Mike Weir and Pete Wishart.
Annabelle Ewing MP said: “Alex Salmond is the outstanding politician of his generation and I know that his decision to throw his hat into ring will be widely welcomed across Scotland.”
Whilst Pete Wishart said: “The next election will be a Westminster election, and I look forward to Alex Salmond leading us to that. He is a true political heavy weight and his presence will be felt immediately.”
Over the weekend the other candidates for the leadership, Roseanna Cunningham and Michael Russell, were sharply critical of Mr Salmond’s plan to remain at Westminster until 2007.
Speaking in a live debate on the BBC Politics Show, Mr Russell referred to the joint slate plan as “deeply flawed” and Ms Cunningham said that: “No matter how we look at this, the effective leader of the party will be in Westminster and I think the Scottish Parliament, particularly in the state that Scottish politics is in today, deserves far more from the national party than to have the next three years effectively being a contest not between the people who are bidding to be First Minister.”
Ms Cunningham is the only leadership candidate with a seat at Holyrood.
All 8209 registered SNP members will be able to vote in the leadership contest, with the result due to be announced on September 3rd.
