ALEX Salmond has denied reports he has proposed an electoral pact between Alba and the SNP in exchange for Alba's support ahead of upcoming confidence votes in the First Minister.

Humza Yousaf is attempting to build bridges with the other party leaders at Holyrood as he fights for his political future, inviting them to talks at his official residence.

The Sunday Times reported that Salmond, former first minister of Scotland, said "a top line" of any discussion with Yousaf would be the idea of reviving the Scotland United strategy – which would see a single pro-independence candidate stand in each Scottish constituency.

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Whilst a spokesperson for Yousaf said the idea was "fantasy", Salmond has also refuted reports of an electoral pact whilst appearing on Sunday with Laura Kuenssberg.

"Given that I never made that proposal in the first place, that was an overwrite in a Sunday newspaper, we're not particularly bothered by that," Salmond said.

He added that Alba's sole MSP Ash Regan, whose vote could be crucial to Yousaf's political survival, would be meeting with the First Minister.

"She'll take with her some very reasonable, positive proposals which, if the First Minister accepts them, will help him to get out of a very tight political corner," Salmond said.

These proposals were outlined in a letter sent by Regan to Yousaf on Friday morning.

Meanwhile the Alba Party’s Westminster leader, Neale Hanvey, said the party is “not saying we are going to save” Yousaf.

Amid the tight parliamentary arithmetic at Holyrood, the vote of the Alba Party’s sole MSP Ash Regan could be crucial to Humza Yousaf’s political survival.

Hanvey told Times Radio that the party has “come to absolutely no firm conclusion” about whether to support him.

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He said: “We’re not saying we are going to save Humza Yousaf. The situation that Humza Yousaf has got himself into is a matter of his own making. And, you know, there is a range of views around whether he will be able to tough it out or whether he’s already toast.”

He added: “We’ll wait to see what the First Minister comes back with. You know, we have an open position at the moment.

“We’re willing to listen to what he has to say, but we have come to absolutely no firm conclusion about whether we’re going to support him or not.”

Regan, a former SNP MSP, has written to Yousaf to offer him an “early opportunity” to discuss three clear priorities – Scottish independence, women’s rights and the future of the Grangemouth oil refinery.

Yousaf terminated the power-sharing deal between the SNP and Scottish Greens on Thursday.

He is now facing a vote of no confidence, tabled by the Scottish Conservatives, while Scottish Labour has tabled one of no confidence in the Scottish Government as a whole.