Niece of Alex Salmond bids to become Alba candidate at 2026 Holyrood election

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Alex Salmond's niece is bidding to become an MSP in her late uncle's former constituency.

Christina Hendry is hoping to secure the Alba Party nomination for Banff and Buchan, an area represented by the former SNP leader for three decades.

Salmond had planned to contest the constituency in 2026 before his sudden death in October aged 69.

Hendry delivered a tribute at his official memorial service at St Giles Cathedral in Edinburgh last month in which she recalled memories of her “Uncle Alex”.

She later described being "very moved" at the sight of people lining the streets when Salmond's coffin was transferred from Aberdeen Airport to Fraserburgh.

"You could see how loved he was. He loved Aberdeenshire and that part of the world," Hendry told the P&J.

“I wanted to honour his name and his legacy. I’m a candidate who has independence and Salmond blood running through my veins.”

Hendry, who is the younger daughter of Salmond’s sister Gail Hendry, was born in Peterhead. She spent her early years in the north-east, before moving to the Borders with her family, but said the region is one that “feels very close to my heart”.

The 29-year-old was involved in the 2014 independence referendum and the Scottish Youth Parliament as a teenager.

Asked how he would react to her decision to put herself forward, Hendry said: “I think he would be very proud.

“It’s something I want to do for the people in the area and for him. He always told me how proud he was of everything I did.”

Hendry, who is a qualified child psychologist, said she has “always looked for a reason to get back to the north-east”.

It will be for local party members to decide if she is their chosen candidate.

Alba has so far failed to return a single candidate at either a Scottish or UK election.

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