Salmond tightens his grip on the SNP executive

should lead a more unified party into the General Election.

Mr Salmond, unchallenged after four years in charge, retains unopposed

both his deputy, Dr Allan Macartney, the MEP for North-east Scotland and

Mr John Swinney, his publicity vice-convener.

Activists claim that the party would have a strong team to lead them

into the General Election if there are victories for the former

dissidents, Mr Alex Neil, who is seeking a policy post, and Mr Kenny

MacAskill, who is contesting the national treasurer's post.

With the SNP still achieving around the 30% mark in opinion polls, and

after successful regional and European elections and a near miss in

Labour's heartland in the Monklands East by-election, the party believes

it is poised to advance.

Mr Neil, 42, who resigned as a party spokesman after the infamous

Maastricht vote with the Tories, agrees with the mood of the party that

this affair and rows over Scotland United are dead issues.

As nominations for national office and the NEC closed, Mr Neil added:

''There is a determination to make the breakthrough in the next

election. We have had a good run of election successes and I think the

party would be impatient with anyone who puts that success at risk.

''I don't think anyone is of a mind to do that. The priority must be

be to prepare for next year's unitary elections and then the General

Election the following year.''

If Mr Neil takes charge of policy, he will have the critical task of

formulating the SNP's response to the Inter-Governmental Conference in

1996 that will set down the European Union's constitution. He will also

be charged with developing a strategy to rebuild the Scottish economy.

Mr Iain Lawson, who has also criticised Mr Salmond's leadership style

in the past, agreed that by bringing Mr Neil closer to key

decision-making, a more co-operative air was evident.

He said: ''The nominations are in a sense a vote of confidence in Alex

Salmond. They show that there is no reason for any rancour.

''It is a healthy sign that we can look forward to party elections for

office in September that come without any great difference between the

candidates.

''I suspect there are no great policy differences between Alex Neil or

Rob Gibson (current policy vice-convener) and it will be decided on

personalities.''

Mr Salmond welcomed the strong competition for the posts as a healthy

sign, saying: ''I am delighted that there is such a strong team of top

people available to take the SNP forward for the next year and towards

even greater election successes.''

Mrs Kay Ullrich, the unsuccessful candidate at Monklands, is expected

to win a seat on the executive. Councillor Ewan Dow, the 22-year-old

student who is convener of Tayside region, is also competing for an NEC

seat.

Mr Tom Chalmers, a Glasgow laywer who is standing down from the

treasurership, is seeking an NEC seat along with Mr Fergus Ewing, who is

vacating the organisation post to concentrate on the Inverness, Nairn,

and Lochaber seat.

The party

office-bearers

THE full list of office-bearers: unopposed : president, Mrs Winifred

Ewing; national convener, Alex Salmond; senior vice-convener, Dr Allan

Macartney; vice-convener publicity, John Swinney; national secretary,

Alasdair Morgan.

Vice-presidents (three): Roger Mullin, Paul Scott, Andrew Welsh MP and

Gordon Wilson; National treasurer, Gerry Fisher, Fiona Hyslop, Janey

Law, Mike Lunan and Kenny MacAskill.

Vice-conveners; organisation, Adam Ingram, Anne McNair;

administration, John Maclean, Gil Paterson; local government, Councillor

Jim Mitchell, Councillor Maureen Watt; policy, Rob Gibson, Alex Neil;

youth affairs, Henry Sloan, Kevin Stewart, and Nicola Sturgeon.