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Alba Party

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Alba Party
LeaderAlex Salmond[1]
Founded8 February 2021
RegisteredPP12700
Split fromScottish National Party
Headquarters1 Lochrin Square
92–98 Fountainbridge
Edinburgh
EH3 9QA
IdeologyScottish nationalism[2][3][4]
Scottish independence[5]
Colours  Blue and   white
House of Commons (Scottish seats)
2 / 59
Scottish Parliament
0 / 129
Local government in Scotland
7 / 1,227
Website
www.albaparty.org

The Alba Party is a Scottish nationalist and pro-independence political party in Scotland. The party was founded by the retired television producer Laurie Flynn, with the former first minister of Scotland Alex Salmond taking over as leader. Salmond launched the party's 2021 Scottish Parliament election campaign in March 2021, with the party planning to stand list-only candidates. Two Members of Parliament (MPs) in the House of Commons defected from the Scottish National Party to the Alba Party on 27 March 2021, and several other high-profile figures from the party including members of its governing body and former MPs joined the party in the days following Salmond's announcement.

History

Background

Alex Salmond served as leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 1990–2000 and from 2004–2014, and as first minster of Scotland from 2007–2014. His deputy and successor as first minister and leader of the SNP was Nicola Sturgeon. Salmond resigned from the SNP in 2018 following accusations of sexual misconduct, which he denied.[6] He was acquitted of charges made against him in a subsequent court case in 2020.[7] Later in 2020, the possibility of Salmond leading a new party supporting Scottish independence was discussed, in the context of a feud between Sturgeon and Salmond, who accused Sturgeon's "inner circle" of plotting against him.[8] Polling conducted in July 2020 reported that 40% of those who voted SNP at the 2019 general election would back an independence-supporting party backed by Salmond.[8][9]

Founding

The party was founded and registered with the Electoral Commission by the retired television producer Laurie Flynn on 8 February 2021.[10] Alba (pronounced [ˈal̪ˠapə]) is the Gaelic name for Scotland. [11] On 26 March 2021, Salmond announced at the party's election launch that he had joined the party and would become the new leader, taking over from Flynn, after "discussions with Laurie and others from other list parties" over the prior weeks.[12] During the announcement of candidates, it gained its first elected member, councillor Chris McEleny, who previously had served as the SNP group leader on Inverclyde Council[13] and an SNP candidate for the forthcoming 2021 Scottish Parliament election.[14] The MPs Kenny MacAskill and Neale Hanvey, as well as the former MP Corri Wilson, joined the party on 27 March.[15][16] The SNP's national equalities convener, Lynne Anderson also defected to Alba.[17] BBC Scotland's political editor Glenn Campbell said the list of defectors to the party included "those who fear that gender self-identification for trans people poses a threat to women's rights" as well as politicians who personally support Salmond and his approach to Scottish independence.[18]

2021 Scottish Parliament election

The party announced plans to stand at least four candidates for the list vote in every region in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.[19] Intended candidates include Salmond standing for the North East Scotland region as well as former SNP members Chris McEleny standing for the West Scotland region, Eva Comrie for the Mid Scotland and Fife region (for which she was previously the SNP candidate),[20] and Cynthia Guthrie for the South Scotland region.[12][21] Caroline McAllister, the SNP's women's convener and depute leader of West Dunbartonshire council, joined the party and was announced as a candidate in the West Scotland region.[22] The party endorsed voting for the SNP in the constituency vote while voting for the Alba Party for the list vote, in order to ensure more pro-independence MSPs are elected.[1]

On 26 March 2021, the leader of Action for Independence, former SNP MSP Dave Thompson, stated that the party would be standing down all their candidates in order to support Alba.[23][24] Tommy Sheridan, a former MSP and convicted perjurer who had been seeking election as part of Action for Independence, joined the Alba Party on 28 March.[25] On 29 March, former professional boxer Alex Arthur was announced as a list candidate.[26]

Reception

Sturgeon and the SNP criticised the new party, questioning Salmond's fitness to take public office given the sexual harassment claims against him.[27][28] Lorna Slater, co-leader of the Scottish Greens, also criticised the new party, describing it as "a party thrown together by a disgruntled ex-first minister as part of his vendetta against our first minister."[29]

Neil MacKay called the party "Trumpian" and "a hotchpotch of social conservatives and nationalist fundamentalists" in his Herald column.[30] The party was also criticised after it was revealed that candidate Alex Arthur had tweeted anti-vaccine statements and remarks referring to Romanians as fat and using the pig emoji.[31]

Policies

The party is Scottish nationalist, advocating Scottish independence, as an "immediate necessity".[32] The party describes its objective as being to build a "socially just and environmentally responsible" Scotland.[33]

Representatives

MPs

Name Former party Constituency
Kenny MacAskill style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color " | Scottish National Party East Lothian
Neale Hanvey style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color " | Scottish National Party Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath

Councillors

Name Former party Council Ward
Chris McEleny style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color " | Scottish National Party Inverclyde Council Inverclyde West
Lynne Anderson style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color " | Scottish National Party North Lanarkshire Council Stepps, Chryston and Muirhead
Caroline McAllister style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color " | Scottish National Party West Dumbartonshire Council Leven
Leigh Wilson style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color " | Scottish National Party Aberdeenshire Council Mearns
Alastair Bews style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color " | Scottish National Party Aberdeenshire Council North Kincardine
Michelle Ferns style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color " | Scottish National Party Glasgow City Council Shettleston
Ellen McMaster style="background-color: Template:Scottish National Party/meta/color " | Scottish National Party North Ayrshire Council Ardrossan and Arran

Leaders

# Name Entered office Left office Photo
1 Laurie Flynn 8 February 2021 25 March 2021[34]
2 Alex Salmond 25 March 2021
(announced) 		Incumbent

References

  1. ^ a b Heffer, Greg (26 March 2021). "Alex Salmond becomes leader of new pro-independence Alba Party ahead of Scottish elections". Sky News.
  2. ^ Brooks, Libby. "Alex Salmond launches new independence-focused Alba party". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  3. ^ Brooks, Libby. "Scottish opposition offered easy hit by Alex Salmond party launch". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  4. ^ "Alex Salmond Will Lead a New Scottish Party Into May Election". Bloomberg. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  5. ^ Davies, Gareth; Sanderson, Daniel (26 March 2021). "Alex Salmond returns to politics to lead new pro-independence Alba Party - watch live". The Daily Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  6. ^ "Ex-SNP leader Alex Salmond resigns from party". BBC News. 2018-08-29. Archived from the original on 2020-04-01. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  7. ^ "Alex Salmond acquitted of all charges in sexual assault trial". the Guardian. 2020-03-23. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  8. ^ a b "Tommy Sheridan urges Alex Salmond to 'sweep up votes' with new Yes party". The National. Archived from the original on 2020-09-23. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  9. ^ "Quarter of Scots 'would back new pro-independence party led by Alex Salmond'". HeraldScotland. Archived from the original on 2020-11-01. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  10. ^ "View registration - The Electoral Commission". search.electoralcommission.org.uk. Archived from the original on 3 March 2021. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  11. ^ Finnis, Alex (28 March 2021). "What the word 'Alba', the name of Alex Salmond's new political party, means". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  12. ^ a b "Alex Salmond to lead new Alba Party into Scottish Parliament election". The National. 2021-03-26. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  13. ^ "Salmond launches rival party to SNP for Holyrood election". Greenock Telegraph. Archived from the original on 2021-03-27. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  14. ^ "Councillor McEleny, Chris". Inverclyde Council. Archived from the original on 2021-01-23. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  15. ^ "MP Kenny MacAskill quits SNP to join Alex Salmond's Alba Party". The National. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  16. ^ "Second MP defects from SNP to join Alex Salmond's new Alba independence party". Sky News. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
  17. ^ James Matthews [@jamesmatthewsky] (March 28, 2021). "Neale Hanvey, Kirkcaldy & Cowdenbeath MP will stand for Alba Party in the mid Scotland and Fife seat. Also transferring is SNP National Equalities Convener Cllr Lynne Anderson @SkyNews" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
  18. ^ "MP Neale Hanvey defects from SNP to new Alba Party". BBC News. 2021-03-28. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  19. ^ "Alex Salmond launches new political party". BBC News. 2021-03-26. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  20. ^ Hawker, Luke (2021-03-26). "Nicola Sturgeon humiliated as election candidate quits SNP for Alex Salmond's rebel party". Daily Express. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  21. ^ "Alba Party: Former SNP councillor quits to join Alex Salmond". www.scotsman.com. Archived from the original on 2021-03-27. Retrieved 2021-03-26.
  22. ^ "The SNP's women's convener becomes latest politician to defect to the Alba Party". The National. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  23. ^ "Action for Independence reveal candidates for Scottish Parliament election". The National. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
  24. ^ Barrie, Douglas (2021-03-26). "Action for Independence stands down candidates after Salmond announcement". www.standard.co.uk. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
  25. ^ "Tommy Sheridan has joined Alex Salmond's Alba party". www.scotsman.com. Retrieved 2021-03-29.
  26. ^ Boxer Alex Arthur to stand for Alex Salmond's Alba Party
  27. ^ Swerling, Gabriella (2021-03-27). "Nicola Sturgeon savages Alex Salmond as SNP MP defects to Alba". The Telegraph. ISSN 0307-1235. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
  28. ^ "MP Kenny MacAskill quits SNP for new Alba Party". BBC News. 2021-03-27. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
  29. ^ Brooks, Libby (28 March 2021). "Second SNP MP defects to Alex Salmond's Alba party". The Guardian. Retrieved 28 March 2021.
  30. ^ MacKay, Neil (2021-03-30). "Neil Mackay: Salmond's Trumpian circus distracts Scotland from the issues which matter". The Herald. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  31. ^ Hutcheon, Paul (2021-03-30). "Boxer Alex Arthur apologises for "fat" beggars claim after being announced as candidate for Alex Salmond's Alba Party". The Record. Retrieved 2021-03-30.
  32. ^ "About ALBA". ALBA. ALBA Party. Retrieved 26 March 2021.
  33. ^ "Salmond announces plan to stand for Holyrood as he launches Alba Party". Holyrood Website. 2021-03-26. Retrieved 2021-03-27.
  34. ^ "Alex Salmond to lead new Alba Party into Scottish Parliament election". The National. Retrieved 2021-03-28.
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