SNP incompetence in government has hindered the cause of Scottish independence, according to its former leader Alex Salmond.

The man who led the SNP into power in 2007 and through a referendum on separation in 2014 was highly critical of his successor as first minister Nicola Sturgeon, as well as the party itself, which he left in 2021 to form Alba.

He branded Ms Sturgeon’s “ill-starred, ill-fated, kamikaze venture to the Supreme Court of the United Kingdom” to challenge the British government’s decision to block another constitutional plebiscite as “just ludicrous from start to finish.”

Speaking on the 25^th anniversary of devolution, Mr Salmond claimed the advent of the Scottish Parliament had “helped independence when the SNP were a competent government.” 

But he added: “Obviously it has hindered independence when the SNP became an incompetent government in more recent years.”

He said his former party had been “diverted into the highways and byways of identity politics” instead of “worrying about health, education, housing, transport, finishing the A9 and so on” during Ms Sturgeon’s tenure.

The former first minister argued that people “liked to be able to see that the parliament had achieved things that matter, that are meaningful to the people” and that Holyrood was “at its best and thought of the best [when it was] more ambitious for the country.”

Mr Salmond served as SNP leader both before and after John Swinney’s 2000-04 electorally disastrous first attempt at the job.

But now, as the man who served as his finance secretary throughout his time as First Minister settles into Bute House himself, he appeared to offer some advice: “Keep your eye on the people’s priorities, not the indulgences of politicians.”

The SNP was contacted for comment.