Alex Salmond on his leadership regrets and on standing down unity candidates to help SNP ahead of Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election

Former first minister Alex Salmond has spoken about his SNP leadership regrets, what he thinks of Humza Yousaf and why he would be willing to step down candidates from his own Alba party

Former first minister Alex Salmond has suggested standing down his Alba candidates in marginal seats to help the SNP.

The Alba party leader has written to Humza Yousaf offering to help SNP candidates win, but only if the First Minister drops the coalition with the Greens and commits to a full-blown campaign for independence at the general election.

It comes as campaigning steps up in Rutherglen and Hamilton West ahead of the by-election to replace ousted MP Margaret Ferrier.

Former first minister Alex Salmond. Picture: Yui Mok/PA Wire

Speaking during the Fringe, where he is hosting a nightly show alongside former Tory Minister David Davis, Mr Salmond told The Times a deal between the SNP and Alba could seal independence within five years.

He said: “We’ve written to them. If the SNP put forward a unity candidate, we believe the other independence parties should withdraw in their favour, as long as that is carried forward to the general election. That unity candidate would be the SNP candidate, because it’s an SNP-held seat.”

This comes despite his breakaway party Alba failing to win a single seat in the Scottish local elections, despite fielding 111 candidates.

Standing down as leader in 2014 after losing the independence referendum, Mr Salmond also suggested this was a decision he now regretted.

He said: “I don’t have a satisfactory explanation. If I’d known then what I know now, clearly I would not have done so, I would have waited for someone else to emerge to take forward the mantle. I thought Scotland was quids in for independence. As for Europe, after Brexit I didn’t see how Scotland could lose.”

The former RT presenter, who worked for the state-controlled news organisation, criticised Nicola Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell for not delivering independence. He claimed the pair never forgave him for suggesting it was a bad idea for Mr Murrell to be chief executive of the party while she was first minister.

Mr Salmond said: “I told Nicola, I told Peter, individually, then told them both together that I didn’t think it was tenable.

“While it might be OK in the good times, sooner rather than later it would not be OK. It was the last time I spoke to Peter Murrell – 2014. The look on his face was a combination of hurt, resentment and hate, I would say. It was visceral.”

He claimed this sparked a furious backlash, with a campaign then started against him in the party. Mr Salmond said: “I found it quite difficult to be called [to speak] at SNP conferences.

“It was just petty, pathetic things like that. When I stood for the national executive, I got more votes than anyone else combined, and Nicola called me and asked why I had done that. Looking back I recognised her problems, and it’s her problems.”

There was also criticism of Mr Yousaf, to whom he gave his first political job, with Mr Salmond suggesting the First Minister think more and campaign less.

He said: “Instead of beetling round Scotland as the first activist, he would probably have an extra half hour in the bath in the morning to think about things. It doesn’t matter how bright you think you are, a moment of reflection is always worthwhile.”

However, there were kinder words for Kate Forbes, who came second to Mr Yousaf in the leadership race.

Mr Salmond said: “I’ve no doubt that if she had become leader of the SNP and first minister, you would have a totally different complexion and environment around the various forces for independence. Kate was much more interested in uniting in some form the parties of independence into a national movement. That is called leadership. It’s too early to judge whether Humza has it.”

The SNP has been approached for comment.