No obvious successor

Former first minister Alex Salmond says SNP will struggle to find an able leader who can unite indépendence movement

- CHRIS MCCALL

ALEX Salmond has claimed there is “no obvious successor” to Nicola Sturgeon.

The former first minister, who mentored Sturgeon during her early years in the party, warned her exit from frontline politics left the independence campaign with "no clear strategy".

Salmond served as SNP leader in two spells until he stepped down in the wake of the 2014 independence referendum.

He 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 de facto 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."

The news of Sturgeon's exit sent shock waves through Holyrood and Westminster and brought tributes from politicians across the spectrum. UK Labour leader Keir Starmer wished the First Minister well and said she had served with dedication and passion" since she entered Bute House in 2014.