Alex Salmond says ‘by no means say by no means’ about reconciliation with Nicola Sturgeon

Alex Salmond has refused to rule out a reconciliation together with his successor Nicola Sturgeon, saying he could be “sad” in the event that they remained on poor phrases.

Ms Sturgeon, who stepped down as SNP chief and Scottish first minister earlier this yr, was as soon as near him, however that they had a well-publicised falling out after Mr Salmond confronted sexual harassment allegations.

He was cleared of all costs following a excessive court docket trial, however Ms Sturgeon, 53, has continued to insist the connection together with her former mentor can’t be repaired.

Asked in regards to the falling out as he appeared at Iain Dale All Talk on the Edinburgh Fringe on Tuesday, Mr Salmond, 68, would solely say “never say never” when it got here to attempting to rebuild their relationship.

The former SNP chief, who now heads up the rival pro-independence Alba Party, mentioned he had been “oblivious” when Ms Sturgeon had instructed the identical present final yr she had not been in contact with Mr Salmond since.

Asked if he may see a scenario the place the pair may ever reconcile, Mr Salmond mentioned: “You should never say never.”

On the prospect of not chatting with his successor once more, he added: “I would be sad if that was the case.”

But, referring to the Police Scotland investigation into SNP funds, the place each Ms Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell had been arrested, earlier than being launched with out cost, Mr Salmond added to “be quite frank I think Nicola has got more immediate things to worry about”.

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His feedback got here as he claimed the Alba Party may doubtlessly win 24 seats on the subsequent Scottish Parliament elections – including the get together may turn out to be a “key part” in an independence coalition at Holyrood.

Alba has not but had a parliamentarian elected to both Westminster or Holyrood, with the get together’s two MPs, Neale Hanvey and Kenny MacAskill, each defecting from the SNP to Alba after being elected.

Speaking in regards to the assist for his get together, Mr Salmond mentioned “these things take time”, including that “political parties take time to establish themselves”.

With Holyrood elections fought utilizing proportional illustration, Mr Salmond continued: “The target for Alba is to get 15% of the vote on the regional list vote, that will get us about 24 seats.

“And if the playing cards fall accurately we will be a key a part of an independence coalition in that parliament.”

That coalition should then proceed “by way of in search of a mandate to barter independence”, Mr Salmond said, saying “the referendum route has been blocked, partly as a result of techniques employed by Nicola”.

He also insisted he still had “one thing to contribute” in the fight for Scottish independence.

Mr Salmond said: “The vote did not go the best way I wished it to however no less than we had the mechanism for folks to train the correct of self-determination, and I believe I may assist contribute to that once more.”