THAT ALBA ELECTION

Posted byiainlawson27Posted inUncategorizedTags:, , , , , , , , ,

From Colin Alexander, an Alba member of the Glasgow Lacu

Shortly after the December 2023 Alba Party NEC election concerns were raised about that election.

No answers from Alba were forthcoming and an NEC member subsequently resigned: apparently due to the failure to address concerns that money bought seat/s on the NEC. The NEC is the National Executive Council and basically owns the party and has a major influence on who can be candidates etc.

Alex Salmond belatedly responded to concerns about irregularities and lack of transparency in the Alba Party NEC election by implying that NEC candidates’ prior permission was required to release the election results in full, and as that consent had not been obtained, the full results could not be published. Instead, he gave an assurance that all is above board.

Alex gives no rationale for his conclusion that the candidates’ prior consent is required to release the full NEC election results.

On the contrary, it is normal in elections that election results are published. No reasons are given for Alex’s conclusion that voting figures are a candidates’ private information requiring secrecy unless consent was given for publication. He does not refer to the GDPR or party constitution or NEC election rules to support his conclusion that voting results can be considered NEC candidates’ private data.

The party has released partial results to NEC candidates giving information on results of voting in their own contest without actual figures, so this appears to undermine the conclusion that the election results are NEC candidates’ private data.

In spite of these very serious allegations and ongoing concerns, Alba Party members received the Nicola Sturgeon treatment from Alex Salmond. They were told: Just take my word for it that everything is fine.

Sadly, taking a party leader’s word for it may have been acceptable in 2014, but not now. Not after the Murrell / Sturgeon years and the cult of the infallible leader.

Answers are required to ensure members can have full confidence that the NEC elections were conducted fairly and that the Alba Party will not countenance any corruption or cover-ups:

What is the basis for Alex Salmond’s conclusion that full NEC voting figures cannot be published because the party had not obtained the NEC candidates’ prior consent? The GDPR, party constitution, Data Protection Officer opinion, or what?

What were the Alba Party membership figures for each quarter of 2023?

How many voting rights were issued for the December 2023 NEC election?

How many (presumed) individuals cast votes in that NEC election?

Of those who were issued NEC voting rights:

How many of those votes were LACU members (Local Area Campaign Unit)?

And how many were not LACU members? For example: those who are registered as Headquarters or International members?

Has the party subsequently asked all NEC candidates for consent to release the full election results ?

If so, how many NEC candidates have not given consent?

What were the full voting results round by round including number of votes? (It being election by Single Transferable Vote).

Until the FULL voting figures are released and there is also transparency around how the election was conducted – that includes who was eligible to vote – concerns will remain that the NEC elections involved some form of impropriety; and the party, and Alex Salmond personally, have decided to not fully address those concerns.

MY COMMENTS

I know publishing this article will bring this site unwanted criticism and unwarranted attacks of being anti Alba or some other nonsense. This article was sent to me with a request that it is published on this site. It is written in a polite manner, it asks questions rather than make allegations, and it does seem a quite remarkable new type of election to host when ordinary Party Members are denied the knowledge of the election results. The more so when so few of them qualified for a vote in the first place.

It is of course not unique. Who can forget the SNP election for list places where voters were denied the results, and this allowed specifically favoured candidates to leapfrog the other candidates often coming from extremely low placings on the rankings to first place? It cost the popular Joan McAlpine her place in Parliament in favour of another candidate who was already a MSP in the previous Parliament but whose very common “disability” was judged under the new rules to qualify her for promotion to first place on that list irrespective of the votes cast. At the time it seemed difficult to suggest that someone who had already succeeded in being elected, without artificial promotion in the previous election was sufficiently disadvantaged to receive this vote promotion to first place irrespective of members votes cast.

I remember writing about what I viewed as a farce in those SNP elections so I was not going to now censor a member of another Party having his say about a electoral practice he considers unfair and potentially wide open to abuse.

As long as any responses are written in a polite fashion, not throwing personal abuse, I will be happy to publish them in the comments section without any edit. Likewise if any senior figure in Alba want to answer Colin’s article and provide the answers he is seeking I will be happy to publish that response as well. I did receive a number of similar complaints from other Alba members but I was unwilling to publish them as they wanted to remain anonymous and in an article of this type that was unacceptable.

We need to defend freedom of speech in our democracy even if some others wish it was not so. That is what is happening here.

It is my hope that the Alba National Council this month takes the first steps to resolving this problem by setting in place a more open, secure and transparent system for the future. I wish Alba well as I do all the ordinary SNP members who faced similar problems in the past.

I am, as always

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137 thoughts on “THAT ALBA ELECTION”

  2. Regrettably I move ever closer to tearing up my Alba founder member card.
    I know nothing about what is going on because nobody is telling the membership what is going on.
    I do know that certain positions in the Party do not require election…..how can that be?
    I do know that I did not get to vote in key areas because I did not travel to conference. I do not know who or why that what decided.
    I joined Alba because I support Independence and consider the People of Scotland to be Sovereign unlike the SNP who I left. Do Alba think some people are more equal than others?
    From my remote and unimportant position of mere member I have great concern when good people, well respected people, resign and leave the Party.

    I do not know what is going on. However it is obvious from X (Twitter) that opposing cliques do have knowledge given the rock throwing antics.

    I wasted years sticking with the SNP hoping to change it from the inside. I will not make that mistake again.

    The leadership role is not to watch members and ex-members rolling about on the ground trying to land blows. They should have stepped in and ended this.

    What I can see is Chris McEleny acting as a bully trying to intimidate and silence people. Those who resigned or left Alba are my fellow travellers. I want to hear what happened.
    I am a member of the Alba Party. If my role is to be silent and pay my fee you are going to lose my support and my money.

    I will give it one more month before I cancel my membership. It will not be because of what happened. It will be because of the coverup to what happened.

    Liked by 24 people

    1. Aye, I’m feeling a bit like that as well Clootie. I don’t like to be treated like a mushroom, we had years of that from the SNP. It certainly is not a good look and would be much better for all concerned to have everything out in the open and above board.

      I have to confess that I am not very happy the way things are going with ALBA and their position regards a referendum, I just don’t agree with at all. That ship has sailed as far as I’m concerned.

      Liked by 13 people

      4. My response is to James who states the parties position is “Use each and every election to deliver a mandate for Independence” TBQH that just sounds like weasily confusing words that we expect from the likes of the snp as they have done for the last 10 years with 8 mandates and nothing to show for them
        If ALBA are serious about Ash Regans proposal , state categorically and unequivocally that EVERY forthcoming election will be a plebiscite election where EVERY Scots voter who votes FOR ALBA knows that they are voting for INDEPENDENCE NOW , THAT is our referendum

        Liked by 3 people

    2. You are not alone, very sadly. Has Alba just made a mistake or is it going the way of SNP – power without any responsibility?

      I am seriously considering leaving them !

      Liked by 4 people

    3. I’m sorry to say that I’ve heard many similar comments from Alba members who feel they have to leave for one reason or another, some to do with the transparency and governance of the party.

      I’d urge people to stay.

      Stay and make the party work the way you as a member want it to work. If everyone who disagrees with the current set-up leaves, who will push for change? All that will be left is those who don’t care enough to demand change.

      Please stay!

      Liked by 5 people

      1. I have absolutely no problem sticking with Alba. You are going to get misunderstandings and also bad actions and everything in between. The party is just getting going and it is still filled with good people. My criticisms are more along the line of a lack of interest in popular sovereignty and a lack of respect for SALVO from some in the party. That said people are completely free to decide what they think is important and I just take note for future reference with regard to those putting themselves forward for elections.

        Liked by 2 people

      3. Unfortunately Neil, ‘stay and make the party work’ is a non-starter if the ‘PARTY’ structures appear set up to deny members transparency in ANY of its procedures which are considered questionable by those members. It should be a simple task to clarify any misunderstandings regarding NEC electoral procedures.

        Candidates should have absolutely no right to deny consent. Any electoral process MUST be seen to be wholly transparent not only to the membership but more importantly the electorate who the party would wish to attract. All of this stinks so much of the hierarchic control which has led to the disintegration of the SNP and now apparently has leaked into ALBA!

        Liked by 5 people

      4. There is no valid reason not to publish full results in any election. Those members at Conference and a few at home who bought their ticket and with that their vote should be told the results in full, same as they were the previous year. (Although they were deleted from the website the day this years 4 male and 4 females were announced)

        Liked by 3 people

      5. Neil IF ALBA want people to stay or sign up they have to answer the questions being asked and have to PROVE their dedication to independence , I TRULY and FULLY believe in Scots SOVEREIGNTY and IMO ALBA like to talk sovereignty but do nothing about it , Alex Salmond has talked about Scots sovereignty for decades but has done nothing to ASSERT it , IMO Alex and ALBA HAVE to work in combination with SALVO,SSRG and Liberation.Scot but independent politically to maximise our SOVEREIGNTY

        Liked by 3 people

      7. I think you might struggle with that argument that a huge proportion of Alba members tried to do that within the SNP only to join Alba when they learned the SNP had taken steps to cut off such internal protest.

        Liked by 1 person

    4. I have to declare first and foremost that I am not now nor have I ever been a member of ANY political party although I have supported independence for decades and voted snp in elections , I have also been an avid reader and contributor to lots of indy blogs and when I see people like Clootie who I would consider a dedicated indy supporter and dedicated party supporter have reservations about continuing their membership it is about time the hierarchy within ALBA started to bloody listen and communicate with their members, I would think the officials within ALBA should respond within Yours For Scotland to Colin’s and others open critique in the way the election was carried out
      We, irrespective of party affiliation or none have spent 10 years listening to lies and broken promises from a shower of fake corrupt independence incompetents who have BETRAYED our people and our country , we are so much more sensitive to being used and abused by people who manipulate and lie , ALBA needs to be totally honest and transparent with members and voters or they will whither, I have asked numerous times from members to produce proof that ALBA will fight EVERY forthcoming election as a plebiscitery election which is equivalent to a referendum of the Scottish people

      Liked by 3 people

      1. I believe that this year 2024 must be the year to restore Scotland as a free nation keeping in mind the 92% of our assets going to London and the humiliation of being their most lucrative colony this year may well witness the death of the now exposed SNP as traitors who conned people to vote for them to liberate Scotland instead they sit comfortable in London as just another establishment party enjoying the subsidised luxury lifestyle in London nothing has changed since 1707 as the SNP join the list of that parcel of rogues Burns spoke about.

        Like

    5. Hang on in remember the @albaparty is our only choice left in the elections this year give tham a chance I do get where you are coming from I am also a member of Salvo Liberation .Scot who also need our support even though they are seriously non political and to me they are our only true means of breaking the colonial shackles in Scotland!

      Liked by 1 person

  3. I have seen this mentioned a few times online with sniping from both sides. Full transparency is what is needed to show to people that there has not been any skulduggery. That everything is fair and above board. Without that transparency nobody could be satisfied that this was the case. Taking things at face value, no matter who it may be from, is always a mistake.

    I can understand people saying well you’re not a member of Alba so what does it have to do with you but what about those who might be thinking of joining Alba? The optics of this do not look good in my opinion.

    Liked by 22 people

    1. The membership of any Party does not win seats. It is voters who achieve that. Those potential voters are watching this unfold on Twitter.
      I have no idea wat happened, I am not taking a side. However let me give an example. I saw a letter from Chris McEleney to one of the aggrieved stating that their comments/challenge would be considered as a resignation. Who decided that? Was it a Party disciplinary committee, the leadership team…..or Chris. That made me feel very uncomfortable. It should make every member uncomfortable. A disagreement can be used to boot you out!

      Liked by 15 people

    2. John

      I’m sure Leanne Tervit could help you obtain a copy of the letter! I didn’t capture it at the time.
      Chris could of course confirm that he sent it.

      Liked by 9 people

    1. Leanne Tervit because she thinks it was rigged even though she won. Struggling to make any sense of that argument. Not seen a shred of evidence to back up any of her claims. Mad lassie

      Like

      2. In your opinion.
        Hardly a helpful comment. You sound like one of the Nicophants who refuses to accept any criticism of the Party.
        Any sensible person could accept that the process is just as important as the outcome. I could win a race and still consider that the rules or a disadvantage to an opponent had been unfair……perhaps I am in the wrong Party.

        Liked by 12 people

      4. Aye James mad lassie indeed. Mad that I win in a rigged elections and my principles mean that I will not accept that achievement. Mad indeed.

        Liked by 6 people

      5. Sorry, did they rig it for you to win?
        If you’re such an outsider, then why would they let you get into that position?
        Who did the rigging? The independent company? Staff? Ghosts? MI5?
        and who did they rig it against?
        Who didn’t they want on the NEC?
        Who did they replace them with?
        Do you actually have any evidence of vote tampering?

        Like I said, to any objective person this is pretty mad – that’s being generous. More than happy to be proven wrong but you’ll need to provide evidence for that which you haven’t been able to do to date.

        Like

      6. Denise F and Jacqui B withdrew after the 1st OB election. Jacqui B was treated disgracefully and locked out of the membership system. She was then not put forward for the OM elections despite not withdrawing from that. Craig M was elected but didn’t take his seat. Roddy M was given that seat and declined. I resigned a few days after the results as it was clear to me it had been rigged. Now Allan P has resigned due to the treatment of 2 of those who left.

        Liked by 7 people

      7. Leanne may be many things, I know nothing negative about her, but one thing she most assuredly is not, is mad. She was a ‘rising star’ in Alba until she called out what she saw as ‘fiddling’ (my word) and resigned. Suddenly she’s ‘mad’. Disappointing does not come close when we’ve seen this pattern before and we know what it means for any party.

        Liked by 9 people

      8. No. She’s not mad, stop this. Your nasty comment perhaps gives an insight to some as to why good people like Leanne and many more decent and competent women left the party following the “secret” election. The full results still haven’t been provided to candidates. Why not? They have been in previous years. Stick to the issue and stop personally attacking people you don’t even know

        Liked by 7 people

  5. What do we have here is Alba now morphed into a SNP with the purpose of kicking the can down the road again for the continuance of the coercive undemocratic UK,Ok state . Take over party democracy with autocratic control then you control the party and its direction or to be more accurate the lack of direction, as we have seen with the SNP. Have we not learnt anything in the last 10 years under Sturgeons Unionists mafia and now Humzas. Just look at what the elites have done on the British political stage with Starmer shutting down the left wing in England.This is how the elites ensure continuity of control Red Torys, Blue Tory’s there is no real choice, they are using the same model here to infuriated our democracy.
    We cannot afford to put our trust in one person. Salmond is not Gandhi we have no Messiah the independence movement must embrace AUOB like the ISP ,Salvo, Liberation Scotland and acknowledge the Claim of right. Alba is only interested in working with the dud infultrated SNP. To me this speaks volumes. Liberation will only come when the rigged voting franchise is replaced by a internationally recognised constitutional voting franchise as recognised by the UN. Salmon should be embracing this not defending it , also operating to the colonial masters rules will get us nowhere.
    Narrow party politics goes not hack it divide and rule is the colonial masters mantra. We need a liberation movement with one aim to dissolve the corupt one way rotten Union. We do not need another false trust me I know what’s best, attitude going forward .

    Liked by 19 people

  6. If by ‘bought votes’ this guy means ‘bought a conference ticket’ then yeah that’s what it’s always been like – if you don’t like it then lobby to change the rules. I seem to recall an email promptly after the elections where Salmond explained the reasons behind the issue with sharing data. I think, it was a GDPR issue and he said that going forward he will make sure to get consent from candidates. I have to say it, strikes me as sour grapes from those who lost/ didn’t do as well as they thought they would. The reality is that very few people actually care about internal elections, let’s get out and campaign for ALBA so we can win proper elections.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. I would respectfully suggest the SNP would not be in the mess they are today if members had paid much more attention to the make up of their NEC, IN TERMS OF APPOINTEES and the internal elections. They are VERY important in all political parties.

      Liked by 22 people

      1. SNP members stayed in silent compliance for fear of being reprimanded or worse by the SNP if they had spoke out in numbers holding the SNP to account maybe their party would have not become so bloody arrogant.Members were happy to sit back and do nothing but them maybe there were not enough rebellious members to make the SNP toe the line but all this is far too late because the MPs elected were not patriotic enough they were and are historically an ignorant bunch brimming with arrogance and feeling all too powerful only now for them to prepare for death by voters this year tradgically the Labour Party of England will replace SNP arrogance.

        Liked by 1 person

    2. Did you check your facts on the GDPR before posting?

      I refer you to this:

      ‘(2) Public task (Article 6(1) (e) of the UK GDPR – the processing is necessary to perform a task in the public interest or for official functions, and the task or function has a clear basis in law.’

      Entering an election implies consent for your results to be published: it’s that simple.

      Denying your electorate the opportunity to see your results is anti-democratic.

      Giving individual candidates the power of veto over publishing the results of an election is unforgivable – and possibly against the provisions of the GDPR.

      The results should be published in full.

      Liked by 13 people

    3. The GDPR reason is as crazy as their embarrassment reason. Why do you take things at face value after all that happened in the SNP?

      Liked by 5 people

    4. GDPR does not prevent the publication of any election results for the simple reason, any resonable person would expect the results of an election to be made public.

      It is correct that the elections were run by the letter of the constitution, it has however shown the undemocratic flaw in the constitution that requires amended to ensure the party is fully democratic.

      Liked by 3 people

      1. Yep Allan. The flaw as ye call it though was the ability to buy votes and they chose to make use of that flaw to engineer their NEC.
        Constitutional does not equate to moral.
        I know yer a good un Allan, but your defence is weak pal

        Liked by 2 people

      2. I am not defending it by a long shot, the constitution should have had all members electing all of the NEC and other committees from the start we should never have had a two tier system of only have some members able to vote in some national internal elections, as that is discriminatory against those who cannot travel or simply cannot afford to attend events, this is one of the reasons i resigned from the NEC to try and help fix through constitutional ammendments.

        Liked by 3 people

      3. You are defending it Allan. Youre blaming the Constitution when you should be blaming the people that used the “flaw” in the Constitution to act without principles, integrity and honesty.

        Liked by 4 people

      4. Especially when I was a fellow equalities team member who spoke of everything that poverty entails, including the huge lack of opportunities. So to then use the Constitution in a way that uses wealth to buy power is indefensible.
        They did not have to use that “flaw”.
        Its a kick in the teeth for the other candidates and every member who attended conference as their votes were diminished by it.

        Liked by 5 people

  7. I’m finding, when I contact ALBA I don’t get a reply or even an acknowledgment. A bit like it was with the SNP really.

    Liked by 3 people

  8. I’m Scottish and was a member and supporter of the SNP for 33yrs, the SNP left me I didn’t leave the SNP. My wife is from Yorkshire and we both stayed in England and moved to Scotland in 2017 to lend our support to the cause of Independence, we both left the SNP in 2015 as it became apparent that the goal of Independence was not being sort by the SNP under Sturgeon and their only goal was careers. Straight away, we joined the Alba Party and became founding members last year the party tore up our founding membership and replaced it with new cards saying members we were both upset because we were supposed to be founding members for life as long as we stilled paid for our yearly subscription, so we contacted the party and have never had a reply. I have to say that the Alba party has been such a disappointment, and I’ve come to realize they are no better than the NUSNP that we have both since terminated our members membership and will not be returning, and the article is also part of our reason but not all of it. We were so pleased when Ash Regan joined the party, but now I strongly believe she would have been better joining the ISP whose credibility as a party is superb.

    I believe it would be better if Ash Regan became leader, she’s the only person I truly trust for me, she has shown her true colours more than once.

    Liked by 9 people

    1. I would suggest that if Ash Regan has ANY knowledge of impropriety she has to acknowledge that fact immediately and address it, otherwise she is complicit.

      Liked by 1 person

  10. One part of the article needs clearing up. International LACU is a real LACU with rights contained in the party’s constitution. Members of International LACU (which includes Headquarters members) have the same rights as any other Alba member. There is no need to differentiate between home-based LACUs and the International LACU.

    International LACU is quietly working away to support the party. We’re doing our bit. I will not discuss those on a public forum. However, any idea that International LACU is not a fully-participating part of Alba and entitled to the same rights as any other LACU, as spelt out in the party’s constitution, must be refuted.

    Keith Robertson
    International LACU member

    Liked by 6 people

    1. You’re absolutely right – the International LACU has some stellar members, some of whom have been consultants to government in their areas of expertise.

      Far from being a branch in name only, the International LACU have made valuable contributions to the debate on Alba’s governance: whether their contributions have been valued is another question, similar to the questions this excellent article has raised.

      Liked by 9 people

  11. A second thought- is the lack of figures to cover up
    (a) poor turn out
    (b) number of voters/ membership
    (c) arrogance – they know but we don’t !

    Liked by 3 people

  12. It is so sad that a relatively new political party has already come to the point where questions of integrity, honesty, fairness, equality and underhand dealings are being asked.. However, if the members of Alba (I am no longer a member following the AGM) cannot have full confidence and `transparency in everything done in their name, it is heading for the rocks.

    I make no judgement because without full knowledge and transparency it is difficult to do so. However, Party Leaders, committees and officials must remember that the party belongs to the members and not them. We witnessed the SNP collapsing membership that is still taking place for very similar reasons and the Movement does not want or need to go through that chaotic situation all over again.

    I am old enough to remember the factions that sprung up in the late 1970s , early 1980s SNP that caused such divisiveness. The Movement is already fragmented when we need to come together to realise our goal. We hear of ‘unity’ between parties and groups but it is vitally important that unity exists within those parties and groups.

    Liked by 13 people

  13. “The reality is that very few people actually care about internal elections …” That’s true enough, James, the thing is, the issue in question will be used like a big-stick by your political enemies. Another thing is that people don’t care about the number of lost-deposits that a party might incur.

    Liked by 1 person

    1. Everyone should be concerned with the internal elections and how they are conducted. I know im really new to politics but the elected NEC is extremely important. Votes internally probably matter more than anything else.
      Or am I just being thick here?

      Liked by 8 people

      1. No you are not being thick IMO or if you are we could have done with more thickness from the “clever” people when Angus or should that be Agnes Robertson was gutting the election process to the NEC while everyone was at lunch. As one thicko to another more power to you and carry on as you were.

        Liked by 9 people

      2. Thank you David. From the NEC comes the chairs/members of committes. Conference committee decides motions brought to conference. Appeals. Disciplinary etc. The NEC elections matter. And how they are conducted matter even more. Members should demand transparency. They are paying for it. Anyway sorry but im out. Im done with politics altogether. Theres no honesty. I worked my ass off for 2 years and now I’m being attacked from prominent members for asking for transparency. Im disillusioned with the whole lot of it. Privately im getting loads of support. Publically not much at all. Status and power means more than honesty and transparency it seems.

        Liked by 12 people

      4. I agree John. Theres things im remaining silent about right now. But then why should I remain silent to protect people, when those people remain silent while I’m being thrown to the wolves.

        Liked by 6 people

      7. I have thought about it a lot. Family health is one reason holding me back. Another is the constant attacks. The main thing though is that its a lot of information and difficult to put together in a clear and concise way, with a lot evidence attached. A lot of dates and it goes back a few months. Im very new to writing, and writing like this ive not attempted before. The comments here are though, on the whole, encouraging.

        Liked by 8 people

      8. Putting information together in a clear and concise way with a lot of evidence attached for people to read is not easy. It is something I myself still find difficulty with, especially when it comes to making it clear and concise for readers!

        You obviously feel strongly about this though and I think if for no other reason than for your own piece of mind, you should get it all written down.

        Liked by 5 people

      9. I only started writing in July with the “what is poverty” article on roddys blog. Thats easy enough for me as its just writing the truth from my perspective. This is different. Ive made a good start, I’ve collected all the info I have in screenshots and sorted them chronologically. I can’t make it overly heavy on this tho. Its not something I’ve done before so will take time and maybe get some opinions before I ask iain to publish. My uncle who I see as my dad is on palliative care right now so im supporting him and my auntie, as well as caring for my mum. Its been a stressful few months.
        I am writing stuff down at night tho, I need yo have the personal stuff in there too. Its all started quite scrappy but ill refine it until I’m happy to share. Im a total politics newbie, but ive learned a lot. I can do this. Its time I looked after myself as I’m sick of the constant attacks on my character when I’ve not set a foot wrong.

        Liked by 5 people

  14. We the ‘normal’ folk who wish Independence are aware that infiltration by ‘others’ is now rampant due to the closeness of the now questionable vote nearly 10 years ago. This may be part of it. I live in hope we can overcome for the benefit of Scotland.

    Liked by 12 people

  15. This ALBA PARTY info letter dated 18 Dec 2023 addresses issues raised –
    ————
    Dear….

    This is a time for looking back and looking forward.

    As we look back on 2023, by far the most important development was the “October Surprise” which saw Ash Regan MSP joining ALBA. Its importance cannot be overstated. It means that ALBA are now represented at every level of government in Scotland and our work has stepped up a gear and that is the work of moving the country forward.

    Ash’s St Andrew’s Day Referendum Bill on the powers of the Parliament, offers the opportunity to break through the constitutional log jam once and for all and force the pace on independence – you can see the details on this edition of Scotland Speaks.

    Combined with our determination to seek an independence mandate at each and every election, ALBA has the keys to unlock the independence door. And the most important thing is that these initiatives are made in Scotland – no more cap in hand to London Government or London courts for advice on Scotland’s future.

    After the folly of the ill-fated venture to the Supreme Court, we held two meetings with the broader YES movement and promised to return when we had fully formulated a winning strategy. That is what we have now done and that meeting will take place on the afternoon of January 27th in Edinburgh. It is a crucial meeting to which all ALBA members and Yessers are invited. Please register here.

    Our Party is growing and with that growth can come growing pains.

    Our internal elections are a case in point. For the first time we had intense competition for executive positions in the party. That was a good thing of course but brought with it a problem or two.

    Firstly we had to re-run the office-bearer elections amid widespread rumours that something was amiss with the voting system. In the event, an investigation demonstrated that there was nothing at all wrong, merely the amplification of rumour through social media – some of that was innocent, some I fear not. All of it was irresponsible.

    When we moved to the NEC elections we found a different problem. STV is a hard taskmaster in a heavily contested election and can result in people getting very few, if any, first preferences, even people who have legitimate ambitions to be parliamentary candidates. That does not mean they do not have a body of support (they might have lots of preference votes that never came into play), but certainly could be used against them in a real election campaign. We also had not taken the precaution of securing individual candidate agreement to the release of their election data and we still do not have that consent. In the case of the Office Bearer elections which are conducted by One Member One Vote (OMOV), we do have that consent and the full results as given to National Council are detailed here.

    The decision was taken to publish the duly elected NEC candidates but not the full data tables and instead make the complete information on their own performance available to each candidate on request. That’s not ideal but it is sensible.

    Much more importantly we can cure the problem, moving forward. Starting with the elections at National Council in January 2024, the NEC has decided that a condition of standing for internal office will be to give prior agreement to have the full election tables published. That will be confirmed on the same form that members sign to be candidates. It is also the case that the Party this year as part of the constitutional review will have the option, if it so wishes, of moving to OMOV for the National Executive elections.

    I read regularly that people do not wish ALBA to turn into the SNP. That is an admirable objective shared by everyone. But remember two things. One is that no-one on this earth has more reason to be resentful of the “new” SNP than I have and secondly, I ran the SNP for twenty years without a scintilla of the difficulties that have recently engulfed it. Indeed the current ALBA constitution is modelled (with our National Councils and Assemblies) on that of the SNP when it was a decent political party and before democracy and accountability were removed from its constitution.

    In the meantime, as we move forward to providing more information on internal elections, all members can be secure in the knowledge that I am fully satisfied that all our elections have been properly conducted according to our constitution and rules.

    So we now enter 2024 with opportunity before us. We have determined to fight a minimum of 12 seats at the General Election building our organisational capacity for our key test in the Scottish elections of 2026.

    For ALBA, politics as we enter the New Year has now become serious and all grown up. We are not a debating society or a club, nor should we define ourselves just as opponents of the daft policies of the SNP/Green Government.

    We define ourselves as a party with a radical programme to promote economic progress and social justice throughout Scotland and to see our country make an enlightened contribution to the world.

    Above all, we are the only Party with a viable political strategy to achieve independence. We are the last best hope for independence in our generation. That is a heavy responsibility but also an honour which should be embraced by every ALBA member.

    Can I take this opportunity to wish you and yours a Happy Christmas and a Guid New Year.

    Yours for ALBA,

    Alex Salmond
    https://www.albaparty.org/

    Liked by 6 people

    1. So if the first office bearer election which was set aside after voting was over and the result known. If the investigation found nothing wrong didn’t the result of the first election stand? There was definite gerrymandering monkey business going on.

      The GDPR excuse is laughable.

      Liked by 10 people

    2. ALBA PARTY HOSTED EVENT:
      THE YES ROAD TO INDEPENDENCE

      Sat, Jan 27, 02:00 PM
      Charteris Centre , 138-140 Pleasance , Edinburgh EH8 9RR

      ABOUT THE EVENT

      After the folly of the ill-fated venture to the Supreme Court, we held two meetings with the broader YES movement and promised to return when we had fully formulated a winning strategy. That is what we have now done and that meeting will take place on the afternoon of January 27th in Edinburgh. It is a crucial meeting to which ALL ALBA MEMBERS AND YESSERS ARE INVITED.

      Sign-up page with directions –

      https://www.albaparty.org/yes_gathering_edinburgh

      Liked by 3 people

    3. Nothing wrong with the voting system? In that case why did the Gen Sec email a candidate saying that there was a glitch, which meant that some members went to cast their votes only to find their votes had already been cast. And why, in those votes which had already been cast, were those 1st preference votes exactly the same in the cases I seen?
      Also. If there was nothing untoward in those 1st votes, then why was that election re run?

      Liked by 6 people

    4. Aye Fearghas, this is nae mair than a nothin’ tae see here spiel embellished wi’ platitudes, much like an asset transfer fae one organisation tae anither!!

      Liked by 1 person

  16. That’s a very interesting list of questions from someone who, as a member of the Glasgow LACU executive, I’ve never even heard of. I’m sure plenty of Alba’s opponents would also love to know the answers.

    Liked by 1 person

  17. I too emailed the party twice enquiring about the results of the election for ordinary members of the NEC and of course apart from the automated reply saying they would be in touch within 7 days, of course they didn’t. It’s exactly like it was trying to contact McCann in the SNP and just as disappointing.

    I often criticise the SNP and other parties on many things, especially anything that is seen as pulling the wool over the eyes of the members, I had more than enough of that latterly in the SNP of which I had been a member for nearly 50 years. I too am a founder member of Alba, joining on day one.

    Alba’s refusal to give out the voting figures has obviously led to great concern, and the excuses given are worse than ludicrous. It is simply not worth it for the vanity of one or two people, especially if most members perceive their election as flawed, it has no authority.

    Jumping to conclusions is not the best of exercises, but most Alba members will have done that for exactly the same reason and anyone involved knows exactly what I am talking about.

    Any embarrassment about low numbers would have been forgotten long ago. What will never be forgotten is the lack of transparency and covering up of the results. Even Alex’ excuse that “some people win positions who were not the first choice” made it all the more obvious that at least one person was.

    Publish the results – at least to members who voted, in actual numbers, not just %, in full and at each stage of the count to either lay this to rest, or I would expect at least one resignation from the NEC and / or a rerun of the election. Not next year, but now.

    The whole thing leaves a very nasty taste in my mouth, and much as I admire Alex, I will not accept an “It’s fine, nothing to worry about” from him or anyone else.

    Those days are long gone.

    Bill Cowan / Bill Dunblane – Former Alba local Council candidate

    Liked by 16 people

  18. I want to know why the Office Bearer election was re-run. The first election was over and we were meant to get the results on the Saturday of conference and Salmond announced it would be re-run. The people I voted for weren’t there when I got my second ballot paper. Did Salmond not like the result so decided to re-run the election.

    Liked by 5 people

  19. First of all, thank you Colin for this blog.

    It takes courage to stand up and ask questions which ‘those in power’ don’t want to be asked. That’s the same type of courage which is required to achieve Scottish Independence – speaking truth to power is never easy.

    My experience of ‘managers’ is that those who deserve their position are not afraid of questions – questions give them an opportunity to show what they did to achieve their position, an opportunity to showcase their qualities and talents.

    Those who fear questions and discourage debate don’t have that confidence. How they achieved their position is open to question, as is their ability to inspire confidence in their fellow workers.

    If it is to lead Scotland to Independence Alba must demonstrate that it fears no questions and has the facts at its fingertips to prove Scotland has a great future among the nations of the world. Our MPs Kenny MacAskill and Neale Hanvey, and our MSP Ash Regan are showing how it should be done.

    It’s time for HQ to step up and demonstrate that they are not afraid of questions, and for them to publish in full the results of the recent elections to Alba members at the very least.

    After all, we are a party who believe in democracy.

    Liked by 6 people

  20. As others have said, I don’t say any good reason why the voting numbers should not be released. If you are embarrassed at members knowing the result and your personal votes, then I hope you have no intention of standing in council, Holyrood and Westminster election because everyone can find out your votes!

    Re “buying” votes, this is partly to do with the fact that all members could vote for the various Convenors who would automatically become NEC members. However only those who attended conference could vote for the ordinary members for the NEC. That, obviously, discriminates against members with less money. £20 for a conference ticket might be lot of money to someone especially if venue wasn’t near their home. Then add travel costs, hotel costs, food etc.

    Secondly, IF a person wanted to ensure they were elected as ordinary member all they need to do is ensure that their supporters all registered for conference thus potentially skewing the result!

    James Kelly of Scot Goes Pop stood for membership convener and narrowly lost on a platform of changing the rules to ensure that all members got a vote for all NEC positions. Personally I think he’s right, that should be the case.

    I don’t blame anyone who sat through the hollowing out of democracy in the SNP being on high alert at some of the things that might be going on in Alba. And no party should believe that people will Wheesht for Indy now given what has happened in the past.

    Transparency Alex or you really will need to worry about membership figures as many more will leave than already have.

    Liked by 9 people

      1. Well the issue was more having to pony up the £20 to be permitted to vote. If I paid that for a ticket though I make sure I attended!

        Liked by 4 people

  21. My last comment on this.

    NO Party is our only hope or our best hope for Independence. Parties can be infiltrated but the Public can not be.
    Parties have stopped listening to the Public. They have become complacent and belief that they only have to pretend to listen at election time and then do whatever they want for the next 5 years.
    They live in the World in which the voters trot out, scan down the voting list for our chosen Party logo and then add our Cross.

    I have two key topics that are red lines:
    TransCult Ideology and Independence. I will not vote for ANY Party that will not protect Women and Children and I will ONLY vote for a Party with a clear cut Indy plan for every election. At the moment only the ISP are passing both my requirements. If ISP does not stand in my constituency I will use my vote to remove the SNP MP who fails both my Red lines. People struggled to achieve the vote and I will not spoil a ballot paper and waste what was hard earned by others.
    If it is not OUR Party then it is unlikely to be our Nation……Sturgeon made that clear, as Labour did before her.

    Every member of a Political Party should have a vote on every main official position.
    Every main position should be by election only…..EVERY Position

    The most important final part. We do NOT need ANY Political Party to achieve Independence and my support for those pursuing that route grows daily.

    Perhaps we also need to learn from Margo and select Strong Individuals instead of Party sheep picked for their compliance to a logo or leader instead of to the People.

    Liked by 17 people

    1. “At the moment only the ISP are passing both my requirements”

      I live in the same constituency as the ISP leader, Colette Walker. I’ll be voting for her if she stands as she’ll be the only pro-indy candidate not throwing women under a bus. Yes I do mean you, Kirsten Oswald!

      Liked by 11 people

      2. Oh that’s disappointing June (sorry wouldn’t let me reply to you so need to reply to myself.) I suppose her argument would be the work already put into other constituency for the by-election. Spoilt the ballot paper it is, as I can’t imagine it would be an Alba target seat. Unless an independent for independence stands???

        Liked by 3 people

  22. ALBA is a party where the leader has complete control. Nothing happens without his agreement. If you don’t like that and want to leave, you have very few choices. I have a lot of time for ISP and Collette Walker and hope they can field several candidates in UKGE 2024. They deserve more support from the Yes Movement. ALBA refusing to take part in the Rutherglen by-election was an embarrassing decision. A decision by the leader and everyone else just accepted it. The pretend democracy of it was laughable. This ALBA autocracy will only change with a new leader.

    Like

    1. I joined same afternoon as ALBA launched and AFI withdrew all their candidates without a word to any of them. Martin Keatings was oh so disappointed he didn’t get a chance to stand. Was given bums rush when he approached ALBA for a chance to stand. They already had their 4 candidates for MSF selected.

      Imagine my surprise (not) when Tommy “Brothers & Sisters” Sheridan started appearing at ALBA gigs -without the “brothers & sisters” mantra now of course. Killed SSP, Solidarity going nowhere lets run AFI in the shadows till Eck gets his acquittal sorted. Oh and keep the plebs confused as Colette Walker tried to get a new Indy party launched and through EC red tape to register during COVID, which she did successfully, while ALBA was still a year away from launching.

      AFI had his wee gopher Pat Lee running round Yes Hubs to muddy the waters with their “umbrella ” -now called Scotland United – nonsense the ALBA cap doffers and Eck fanboys and girls are still parroting.

      Went to the Alba book meeting in Kirkcaldy in November and left disgusted and demoralised. ALBA is Eck with Tasmina and McEleny as his attack dogs and defenders of the rulebook they wrote/plagiarised from SNP. They’ve nothing to add to the Indy cause now. Just want their share of the gravy whether HR light or WM full strength.

      Let Eck expose the Sturgeon / Swinney/ Robertson / Blackford / Russell Indy betrayals. All of them are finished. If Eck loves Scotland more than himself prove it and bring down the whole house of cards with the Brit Civil service agents and their political muppets to boot.

      His vitriolic attack on Salvo from NEC last year showed me a) Sara Salyers has it spot on and b) he hates that there’s a smarter lightbulb in the room than him.

      The Salvo meeting in Kirkcaldy last Friday was such a breath of fresh air compared to the Wee Alba book gig. One was about Independence and how to get it, the other a recruitment drive for canvassers, stall attendees and leafleters to be dumped and ignored till next election is called.

      I know where my time and effort for Indy is going and it won’t be ALBA. Should never have joined but hoped SNP1 Alba 2 might have got us the super majority required for another referendum.

      I

      Liked by 2 people

  23. Firstly according to some I have no right to comment on this as I am not a member of Alba which is rubbish. By that argument Alba would not have a right to comment on the bin fire that is the SNP as Alba members left the party. I came very close to joining Alba but after the harsh slap down of Sara Salyers by the party leader I paused. This outburst almost seemed to declare open season on Salvo and few of the great and good some of them founder members sank the boot Into Salvo and I decided Alba was not the party for me. The stink over what should have been a simple internal election with a few thousand members will I suspect be a turn off for those thinking about joining. It seems nothing has been learned as it is not the error that brings people down but the cover ups that follow. To be clear in the unlikely event Alba stand a candidate out here in the sticks I will vote for them and hope they are a roaring success but they have handled this badly and seem to be taking aim at their other foot.

    Liked by 14 people

    1. I agree with all of your points David. The Salvo rejection caused me not to become a member. Like you I will vote for the ISP first choice and then Alba if they have a GL candidate. Certainly not the SNP. If there are no candidates from the ISP or Alba I will spoil my vote paper with #endtheumion.

      Liked by 10 people

    2. Salvo have one opinion, Alba have another. Conference voted. It’s called democracy. Stop with the dummy spitting.

      Like

      1. I am entitled to my opinion. I see Alba and the SNP as part of the Westminster system. In Alba’s case I had high hopes. Sadly they have gone.

        Liked by 4 people

  24. Alba are not the answer to the SNP’s treachery. Alex Salmond, is not the answer to who leads Scotland and its people out of the quagmire of English rule.
    Salmond, a quixotic figure, was responsible for game changing the universally accepted basis of Liberation: that of a majority of Scottish seats in Westminster. He was responsible for gambling instead on a Referendum that was based on a bogus colonial concession from Cameron, with a starting level that had no chance of success when predicted through the lens of England’s history of deception. Thus the result: a ‘near miss’ (not!) achieved through clear breaches of every democratic convention known plus the obvious postal vote rigging by Tory grandee Peter Lilley’ s Idox company.

    Alex seemingly ‘achieved’ 45% ‘Yes’ despite an execrable performance against Darling on the eve of the vote. In fact the ‘Yes’ movement with determined ordinary people achieved a victory. One deliberately undermined , manipulated, and destroyed via the crazy deliberate inclusion of non Scots’ votes. He demurred from fighting this obvious betrayal and resigned. Handing over the whole mess over to the Murrells. Was he told to? Or was he so deluded not to see through these obvious assets of the UK State? Instead he went back to Westminster as a privy councillor ( which he remains to this day) and sang ‘Ode to Joy’ as his compadre, the fat controller, lied though his teeth that we would never be slung out of the EU. Yes, Salmond was persecuted by his erstwhile ‘colleagues’ but only because he changed the script and tried to make a comeback.

    An unedifying story of betrayal by those we trusted and the result is one of bitter disillusion. Now true Scottish nationalists and Republicans look vainly for leadership. A people without a party or a vanguard of able and honest patriots. Alba want us to rerun 2014; the SNP want seats in the H.O.L. and the prospective successors are clones of Sturgeon who want (Un)Free Ports and continuation of the punch and judy show ad nauseum at Westminster with the ‘baby’ being the divided and apathetic Scots people, being abused while they top up their pension pots.

    Good luck to Salvo etc. but using the Claim of Right 1689 version( a grovelling arse lick to King Billy) is pointless in gaining the trust of Scottish folk. A mass movement is required ,based on democratic justice and on voting people into the ‘UK’ parliament as M.Ps and quoting the Act and treaty of Union as being broken and validated by a mandate to dissolve the abusive Contract between Scotland and England. But a fully fleshed out, coherent and workable programme of taking over the levers of Scotland’s governance must be clearly elucidated and adhered to for a once and only blow at these chains that bind us to begin with. This requires talented and creative individuals with real life experience and knowledge, not middle class dilettantes and time serving jobsworths. No professional politicians or virtue signalling hypocrites need apply. Until our movement coalesces around capable and honest patriots, we are trapped in amber.

    Liked by 9 people

    1. I agree with your post Lochside and damn near everything else you put out there. it is the people and the country that matters not leaders or politicians. I would also like to say that Alec Salmond is still massively in credit in my books. far more now than he was when he lead the SNP and I respected him then as well. The man is as mentally tough as anyone I have observed and we need his experience and ability.

      Liked by 4 people

      1. Unfortunately, AS is not going to live forever, and we need a plan going forward. Ash Regan is not the answer. She’s another lightweight, career politician, trying to keep her snout in the trough.

        Like

      2. With neo-liberalism collapsing in the so called west. What’s going to replace it? I’d like the Yes groups to get back together. if we are the best organised political force in Scotland when time gets called on the ‘era of the self’/globalism/neoliberalism call it what you like we will be well placed to take advantage?

        I’d like to see Sturgeon and Murrell in jail as well

        Liked by 3 people

  25. I agree that Iain will be criticised for this.He was right to go ahead because at this moment in time honesty and free speech have become rather mouldy commodities in public life. We all of us have a duty to protect and value those precious things.
    My biggest wish for 2024 is that those in positions of power are able to look at their mistakes and admit that they were wrong. We have to do it all the time in our private lives. Why is it not possible for people to do it in public life? They would gain so much respect. When we look at Donald Trump’s hypocrisy and lies and see how it has poisoned US standards of public behaviour, we should be looking for something different.

    Liked by 8 people

    2. Background: conference in autumn, at Stirling, was not able to debate a motion on what popular sovereignty means, despite having been promised that opportunity in March *if* it voted against my remit back. (It was voted down but was a very close call and contingent on that promisel.) Misinformation about deadlines, however, meant my motion on popular sovereignty, seconded buy Neale Hanvey, was some hours late. However, as it was already ‘slated’ in principle, I expected it to go forward. It was rejected for being tardy. I happened to be speaking to another member with two motions for conference when he realised the deadline had passed. We both ‘got into gear’. His made it.

      In place of any motion on popular sovereignty and its real meaning and application, we got a main motion, written by Alex as he told the conference in which he had carefully included the statement that elected representatives are the custodians of popular sovereignty. Before seeing this motion – punished two days before the conference, I was contacted by phone by Tasmania who told me they’d like to offer me 3 speaking slots including for the main motion. I said I’d be happy to support it so long as there was nothing that contradicted Salvo’s position on sovereignty, otherwise I’d remit back. I was begged not to. (I actually saw it the night before Conference.) At the start of the Conference, Alex asked that no-one remit back the main motion. I remitted back. And lost, of course, as the thunders descended and I and one other faced down the three Alba big hitters. For the record, here is what was at stake, no more and no less: “Either the people are sovereign or the Parliament .. (elected representatives), are sovereign. It cannot be both.,” Canon Kenyon Wright. And this distinction could not matter more. Egos have nothing at all to do with it. The power of politicians vs that of the people is the whole of it.

      Liked by 14 people

      1. Politicians, with a few notable exceptions are scared to death of popular sovereignty. Relinquishing power and control to the people, OMG, whoever thought that was a good idea?

        Well, I have news on that score. I have spoken to many people over the past year and I have only come across a couple that did not think Direct Democracy and Popular Sovereignty was a great idea. The concept that we are allowed a vote every 5 years and then our sovereignty is put back in the box until next time, because we so trust in our politicians to act for the benefit of the people has had its day and found to be extremely wanting!

        I did get a couple of comments from people listening to what I had to say and both comments were very similar – ‘It all sounds great – but will the politicians let you do that?’ – Exactly!!

        Liked by 4 people

    3. Bobobunny your out of order criticising Ash. She has thrown away her minister salary to speak out against GRR, and now put her MSO salary at high risk in 2026 by joining ALBA. I have great respect for her. by

      Liked by 2 people

  27. How to implement the CLAIM OF RIGHT was the issue, as seen here when a conference presentation by Sara Salyers was followed by (prevailing) opposition from Alex Salmond, Neil Harvey and Kenny MacAskill —

    ALBA PARTY Annual Conference (15 Oct 2022). Saturday Session 1.

    Live Stream YouTube. View from 29.28 to 53.10 —

    Liked by 5 people

    1. Can’t argue with anything AS, KM and NV say here. Democracy in action. Chris McEleny is an arse and does more harm than good.

      Liked by 2 people

    3. Exactly as I remember what took place. When Sara was speaking, although listening to her, I was watching the reaction of the members and of those on the platform. When Sara received a bigger ovation than Alex Salmond I thought – make the most of that applause because you will not be invited back any time soon. At that time, I did not know Sara and had never heard her speak but watching Alex Salmond you would think he was chewing a wasp.

      BTW. what happened to all that support promised to Salvo? “I’ll happily join that campaign” “Alba will give them maximum support” I know my memory is perhaps not quite as sharp as it was when I was in my youth but I’m really struggling to remember any support from Alba leadership, as from ordinary Members of Alba – well that’s a completely different story and is a perfect illustration of a party leadership in control of its members, instead of the other way around.

      I fear for the future of any political party whose leaders plough their own furrow rather than the furrow ploughed by its members.

      What the leadership of Alba do not appear to understand is that Salvo is not in competition with Alba or any other political party for that matter.

      Liked by 5 people

  28. Ian said, I know publishing this article will bring this site unwanted criticism and unwarranted attacks of being anti Alba or some other nonsense”

    Not from me it won’t, I was SNP for almost 53yrs, I left in 2018 should have left in 2017. Thought about it from 2015..

    I joined ALBA as a founding member also.. J

    ust glad to see Alex back where he belonged leading another party… But if the SNP has done anything FOR me at all under the sturgeon regime, it has been to open my eyes and NOT just agree our of hero worship..

    I disagree with Alex using the same Franchise at 2014, I disagree with him on what happened with the NEC results.. And that nasty letter form Chris to Leanne.
    I am angry with him on his dismissal of Sara Salyers, if any two movements should be working together it is SALVO & ALBA & include ISP, a party he never ever gives a mention to..

    I no longer believe in Politicians, I do believe in SALVO & Liberation.Scot.. And if only all YESSERS could get their parties to join forces with these organisations what a MOVEMENT that would be. But it is obvious to me now there are too many Egos in Politics.. I do NOT count ISP among them, I believe Colette walker & ISP are on a par with SALVO, as Alba should be too is serious..

    My husband & I left the party a month ago. I will NOT ever vote in any GE election again, as I do not believe in that Parliament, so would not vote for anyone from any Indy party to go settle there again. I WILL be spoiling my ballot with the words #EndTheUnion..
    I know ISP would abstain if they won but I don’t think they will even be standing in my area they nor Alba did in 2021, I smiled my ballot then too as I could not vote for anyone that year..

    I shall vote ISP1 & Alba2 in all HR elections, I think Colette Walker deserves to win some seats in HR as she has proved by abstention from WM she is a genuine Indy leader..

    I joined Salvo right after hearing Sara at the ALBA conference, I pay a direct debit every monthl to Salvo they are my last hope I am 75yrs old this year. My faith lies with Sara..

    Liked by 16 people

  29. I resigned from the SNP in 2015, in part because the party refused to disclose how many votes were cast for each candidate in the constituency elections to decide Westminster candidates for that year’s general election.

    I was subsequently persuaded to rejoin the party to try to restore democracy and transparency via the “good guys” campaign at the autumn conference in 2020. The party called that conference at such short notice and had recently blocked constituencies and branches from being able to communicate with each other so it was extremely difficult to co-ordinate motions between branches and impossible, in the limited timescale, to mount a leadership challenge. Nevertheless, something like 150 motions were submitted by branches. None were selected for debate by the party. Instead, six composite motions were created which were meaningless, vague and could therefore be interprted in pretty much any way that the leader wanted. Something like 150 amendements to these vague motions were submitted by branches. None were selected for debate. At the conference, various speakers were allowed to speak in favout of or against the motions. Those in favour, mostly from the leader’s cabal, were almost all heard clearly, with few technical problems. A disproportional number of technical problems affected those who wanted to amend the motions resulting in far too many of them not being heard. The whole process was an anti-democratic farce.

    Despite this, the “good guys” campaign manage to win a significant majority of NEC and other roles that were avaible for election at that conference. What followed was another antidemocratic farce. Our newly elected National Treasure was refused access to the accounts, various member elected representatives were prevented from speaking at NEC meetings, even though the subject matters directly affected their remit and committees that our good guys controlled were prevented from meeting, even virtually. Despite good guys winning the overwhelming majority of NEC positions that were avilable for election, the controlling cabal was able to outvote them with the support of unelected appointees and those who had to obey the party whip.

    I therefore resigned from the SNP once more. I saw no point in remaining a member of such an anti-democratic organisation and saw no prospect of members ever being able to establish control. The constitution and rules of the party had been amended in the proceding years and this had effectively turned the party into an autocracy.

    I subsequently joined the Alba Party as a founder member in the hope that it would be democratic and accountable to the members. Sadly it is not. The constitution and rules mean that it is effectively an autocracy as well. Members can elect representatives but, just like the SNP, they can be outvoted by the leader and their appointees. Nevertheless, I saw lots of healthy debates taking place and was hopeful that the party would make good progress in advancing the case for Scottish independence. The farce of the elections last year however confirmed my worst fears that Alba is little more accountable to its members than the SNP is to its so I resigned from the party citing the elections farce as my reason. I thought that I might get some kind of response to my reasons for resignation but instead just got an acknowledgement that my membership and direct debit had been cancelled.

    Where does the independence movement go from here? We have a series of factions that couldn’t agree on the colour of sh1te and the main political parties lack proper accountability to their members. If I was younger, I might be motivated to work with others to try to remedy this dreadful situation but, frankly, I’ve lost the will.

    Liked by 8 people

    1. I left the SNP many years ago, and have remained, happily, as a member of no political party, something which has never prevented me from taking an active interest and participation in Scottish politics. For what other reason would I be a subscriber to Yours for Scotland?

      Liked by 5 people

    2. The good guys campaign was the last hope of turning round the SNP and after that I left. From a scratch start it was remarkable how successful it was and the hard yards put in by those organising it have my undying gratitude. To then have all that work overturned by a few kids with funny coloured hair and no idea how to define a woman was the last straw for me and I left. I gave the SNP my vote at the last Holyrood election at the request of Alba a move I now regret and will never vote for them again. Living on an island on the West coast we are unlikely to see either an Alba or ISP candidate so I will have no vote in a general election. Over to you Salvo.

      Liked by 11 people

      1. I might have voted SNP at the last Holyrood elections if they had had a candidate that I trusted and respected but I couldn’t, in all good conscience, bring myself to vote for Shirley Anne Somerville. I therefore spoiled my ballot paper for the constituency vote. It was the first time in my life that I haven’t voted SNP at an election and this caused me no end of angst.

        I voted Alba on the regional list but hardly anybody else did as a result of the SNP’s campaign against them and their continued monstering of Salmond. This was aided and abetted by a compliant and complicit mainstream media who did their best to ensure that Alba got minimal coverage. Any that was given was overwhelmingly negative.

        Like you, I will never vote SNP again. I hope that a pro-independence candidate will stand against the SNP in my constituency at the next general election. If they prioritise independence over all other agendas, they may get my vote but I’ll be paying very close attention to their manifesto. Otherwise, I’ll have no choice but to spoil my ballot paper again.

        It’s a desperately sad state of affairs that so many independence supporters have become so disillusioned with those we trusted to lead us to independence. For as long as the SNP continues to exist, Scotland will get no closer to independence. I wouldn’t trust them to organise a pi$$ up in a brewery, far less negotiate Scotland’s divorce from the rest of the UK.

        Liked by 9 people

      2. David, I am greatly saddened at the thought of lifetime supporters of the SNP having to leave the party to which they gave so much. However, anyone not completely blinded to what was going on within the SNP and especially those that could understand the total removal of democracy had very little choice. I can only imagine the mental anguish involved to take that final step that they never believed would come.

        However, having witnessed the antics of the leadership and chosen elite over the past 9 or 10 years and how the SNP has been transformed from “the vehicle for independence” into the major roadblock to independence must have been a joy to behold for our colonial overlords.

        Someone previously mentioned post-independence negotiations, but who would trust the SNP to obtain the best possible deal with reparations for what our oppressors have stolen over the previous 3 centuries? Certainly not me!

        Liked by 10 people

  30. I suggest every Alba member takes a close look at the Party Constitution. Its got more holes and loopholes that a moth eaten rag. The power is all at the top and with unelected positions. Its nowhere near member led. Party Chair is suggested by Party leader then voted in by the elected NEC. Engineering that NEC guarantees their choice of Party Chair. Have a look at what power Party Chair holds. Have a look at remits of all committees. Ive only been involved in politics for a couple of years. And from what I’ve seen its no wonder we are in the position we find ourselves. From now on I’ll be supporting local, independent, indy supporting candidates. Parties attract selfish folk with their own agendas.

    Liked by 12 people

    1. Ok so are you going to burn the party down ? Then what? You can’t change it if you are outside it. I suggest you put on your big girl pants and be the change you what to see, rather than acting like a spoiled brzt. Without Alba there is nothing.

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      2. Now where have a heard that before? That they are the only option?
        Big girl pants aye? Spoiled brat?
        I’d say the party is already burning itself down all on their own by acting exactly like the SNP. But since you mention it….

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  31. Ooops! to continue from the above: It seems to me that when the good-guys left the Murrellite SNP to join Alba, a huge if, completely understandable, error of collective-judgement was made. An error which allowed Sturgeon, Robertson et al, to accelerate their efforts to destroy the party and the Scottish independence movement with it, all without the inconvenience of a seasoned internal opposition bloc. Quite why Salmond decided to create a new home for SNP dissidents is, frankly, beyond my comprehension. Given his political nous, he would surely have known that the SNP would hemorrhage all of its dissidents in the rush to join him in Alba. That he would completely dominate what he’d created unopposed, was only inevitable. That apart, though, it is Salmond’s apparent taste for what can only be described as: continuity style, business-as-usual policies, whether by accident or design, that have set-me-thinking more often than once. Something doesn’t quite stack-up here, for me at least.

    Liked by 5 people

  32. why is it that the Gen Secretary is allowed to be returning officer in Alba NEC Elections when his job is dependent on NEC approval? Isn’t that a conflict of interest? Correct me if im wrong.

    Liked by 4 people

  33. Having now watched the excerpt provided of the Alba Conference from last year, it confirms my misgivings about both Alba and the ‘old guard leading it, but also about Salvo and the obsession with the 1689 Claim of Right.

    Salmond and McAskill’s disrespectful attack on Salyers and the motion proposed was dismissive, patronising and , to my mind, self protecting. The message was ‘we ken better than yous’. Well Alex,
    you may have stood up quoting Scotland’s people and our sovereignty during the poll tax, but I recall it was the likes of grassroots like Tommy Sheridan who put up the real evidence of Scottish people power. Also, where were you when the tories were dynamiting the treaty of Union to bits with the Supreme Court being dropped on our legal system and being us tossed out of Europe?
    As I have recalled already, too busy showboating and singing ‘Ode to Joy’ .

    My problem with Salvo focus on the Claim of Right of 1689 is that it was a sectarian piece of sophistry signed by the usual suspects, who would sell us out to England, to ensure that King Billy would not interfere too much because of our divided recent history of civil war because of the Stuarts. A cursory read of this document indicates that it talks about defending Presbyterianism more than sovereignty. People should bear in mind that a majority of Scottish Catholics in the West moved from Labour to supporting SNP and Independence after years of despising the SNP as ‘tartan tories;.
    As it turns out they are now being proved right! However, brandishing that particular version in their faces will only produce more division. Far better refer back to the 1988 one if at all.

    More specifically, a movement based on the historical Act and Treaty of Union, an undemocratic politic piece of chicanery that was based on coercion and bribery. One which is historically proven to be an act of colonial subjugation by England in collusion with the Scottish elite.
    We require a movement, free of party manifestos, but entirely of one issue: dissolution of the Union and backed by elected delegates, legally sworn in to appear at Westminster and declare our country’s severance from this enforced and criminal ‘Union’ and leave, as a body that hateful anti Scottish enterprise.

    By doing so, you play their game but by our rules. No more 2015 betrayals, no more Salmond, Sturgeon et all ‘sitting in’. This time it’s ‘settling up’!

    Liked by 2 people

    1. Lochside the presbyterian aspect has been unceremoniously dumped by SALVO it is NOT relevant in todays world , more importantly a people’s assembly of INDIGENOUS citizens should be at the forefront of the Claim Of Right and the Sovereignty of Scots , but as usual Alex Salmond and politicians in general despise the thought of ordinary people having any power they much prefer the upper and middle classes lording it over the peasants , those exact same ones who are against independence and are thriving under their colonial masters

      Liked by 3 people

  34. From talking to Alba members the Alba party’s National Executive Committee (NEC) is thought to be gerrymandered and power is concentrated in the hands of a small group of people. It has also been mentioned that members and ex-members who do not follow the party line are being mistreated. Some of this might be misogyny within the party.

    I’m sorry to hear about these issues. It’s important for political parties are transparent and accountable to their members. I hope that Alba will take steps to address these concerns and ensure that all members are treated fairly and with respect.

    Liked by 4 people

  35. “I hope that Alba will take steps to address these concerns and ensure that all members are treated fairly and with respect.”

    With respect, Stuart, that’s an impossible ask of any mass-member political party. As Brendan Behan famously quipped: [The first thing on the agenda at every Sinn Féin meeting is the split.]

    Liked by 1 person

    1. So there is a split in Alba. That’s a pity for such a young and small party
      What are the sides?

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      1. Postcolonial theory tells us that the rupture in an independence movement is caused by the dominant national party as it ‘moves closer to colonialism’, takes the people ‘up a blind alley’, and becomes ‘an instrument of coercion’ (Fanon).

        This is why new national parties are created. Ideologically the ‘sides’ comprise: a ‘legal tendency’ which moves in line with the colonizer’s laws hence is unlikely to secure independence, and; a supposedly ‘illegal tendency’ which seeks a more international legal approach outwith the constraints of imposed colonial/domestic law.

        The rupture also provides an opportunity for the people to better understand what independence means (i.e. decolonization) and why it is necessary (liberation from oppression):

        Click to access The-Socio-Political-Determinants-of-Scottish-Independence.pdf

        Liked by 4 people

  36. @’indy for me I never said or suggested that there was a split in Alba. I used the Behan quote merely to illustrate the tendency towards internecine struggle that can be found in all mass-membership political parties.

    Liked by 3 people

  37. Scrutinising the ALBA Party’s selection process is vital, as most certainly was that of the SNP. Is it perhaps also therefore appropriate for people to seek clarification of the mechanisms whereby incumbents of the SALVO STEERING GROUP find themselves in place (let me emphasise I am criticising no-one!), and how members of the proposed CONVENTION OF ESTATES will be chosen? Forgive me if the relevant info is on the SALVO site and I am simply missing it. Please note that this comment is not at all mischievous but entirely serious — the matter has indeed preoccupied me since SALVO was launched, but it now comes to the front of my mind again in the light of all the above discussion.

    Liked by 1 person

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