Alex Salmond has launched a new political party in what he said was a bid to build a “super-majority” for independence in the next Scottish parliament.
At a launch for the Alba party on Friday afternoon, the former first minister said the “new political force” expected to field at least four candidates in each regional list, with the intention of electing Alba MSPs from every area of Scotland.
Among the candidates is Chris McEleny, an SNP councillor in Inverclyde. The Scottish parliament elections will be held on 6 May.
Alex Salmond Statement https://t.co/w3IATOmfuv
— Alba Party (@AlbaParty) March 26, 2021
Salmond announced his new party just days after the publication of evidence to a Holyrood inquiry describing a culture of complicity around alleged inappropriate behaviour during his time in office.
Earlier this week, Salmond threatened further legal action against Leslie Evans – Scotland’s most senior civil servant – claiming he felt compelled to do so because she “still refuses to accept real responsibility” for expensive failures of the internal inquiry into harassment claims against him.
He also called for a policy inquiry into the leak of the Scottish government’s bungled harassment inquiry findings. Nicola Sturgeon was cleared of breaching the ministerial code over her dealings with Samond.
Salmond, who led Scotland between 2007 and 2014, said: “Over the next six weeks we will promote new ideas about taking Scotland forward, giving primacy to economic recovery from the pandemic and the achievement of independence for our country.
“We expect to field a minimum of four candidates in each regional list and we’re hoping to elect Alba MSPs from every area of Scotland.”
Salmond said the aim of the party is to work towards a “successful, socially just, environmentally responsible, independent country”.
He said: “Today, Alba is hoisting a flag in the wind, planting our Saltire on a hill. In the next few weeks, we’ll see how many will rally to our standard.”
The former SNP leader told potential supporters to vote for his old party in constituency seats or “an independence” party.
Salmond added: “The Alba Party is a list party, we are standing only in the list. We are not challenging the SNP in the constituencies.
“Indeed we are saying vote SNP or for an independence party on the constituency section. We are giving that support. Our campaign that we have launched is going to be entirely positive.”
More to follow.
Since you are here
Since you are here, we wanted to ask for your help.
Journalism in Britain is under threat. The government is becoming increasingly authoritarian and our media is run by a handful of billionaires, most of whom reside overseas and all of them have strong political allegiances and financial motivations.
Our mission is to hold the powerful to account. It is vital that free media is allowed to exist to expose hypocrisy, corruption, wrongdoing and abuse of power. But we can't do it without you.
If you can afford to contribute a small donation to the site it will help us to continue our work in the best interests of the public. We only ask you to donate what you can afford, with an option to cancel your subscription at any point.
To donate or subscribe to The London Economic, click here.
The TLE shop is also now open, with all profits going to supporting our work.
The shop can be found here.
You can also SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER .
