Steer Your Way Past the Ruins

We are approaching the fourth anniversary of the Alba Party launch. On March 26th, '21 Alex Salmond stunned the Scottish political world by announcing the Alba Party and its intention to stand candidates in the upcoming Holyrood election.

The plan was to win a supermajority in Holyrood and make the gaining of Scotland's independence irresistible.

The independence movement was abuzz with hope and excitement, many joined that first day.

Eva Comrie and Chris McEleny were by Alex's side on launch day. Eva Comrie resigned from Alba in March '24 and stood against Kenny MacAskill in the '24 General Election. Chris McEleny in February '25 was 'sacked' from his position as General Secretary of the Alba Party amid allegations of gross misconduct, allegations he denies and intends to fight.

This above paragraph alone should tell you that things have not gone well.

Since the summer of '23, Alba has been riven by controversy and infighting, with many activists resigning. This was not the most auspicious lead-up to the '24 General Election.

Unsurprisingly, Alba fared poorly in that general election, losing all 19 deposits and polling an average of 1.5%. Neale Hanvey a sitting MP polled only 2.8% even though he had represented the constituency for 5 years.

Neale is standing for Alba deputy leader against Chris McEleny. Despite his travails, Chris received the necessary nominations for deputy leader from Alba members.

Exactly 4 years after the Alba launch on Wednesday 26th March the new Alba Party leader will be announced. It is not an exaggeration to say that making the right choice at this vital juncture, a year until the Holyrood election, is make or break for Alba.

Financially Alba must be in some difficulty. Alba have lost a third of their members since July '23. Alba had been receiving a policy development grant from the Electoral Commission but this depended on Alba having MPs. Alba lost both their MPs at the '24 General Election so they will no longer receive this grant. They can afford to run the party but how well and for how long is in doubt.

Another big problem for Alba is women, which is ironic as Alba is a party that from inception, marketed itself as a defender of women's rights.

Many women have left Alba some have been pushed out and others resigned because Alba no longer speaks for them:

• 11 out of the 18 female candidates at the 2021 Holyrood election have left

• At least 20 of the 35 female candidates at the 2022 council elections have left

• 4 of the 7 female NEC members in 2023 have left

• Only 4 out of 19 2024 General Election candidates were women.

Alba is weak on policy development. Despite two years of policy development grant Alba hasn't developed policies in any depth. A look at the agenda for their upcoming conference is proof of that. Alba has steadfastly refused to countenance a policy development committee for reasons unknown.

The Alba brand and Alba image require some work. Alba needs to step away from being the Alex Salmond Alba Party and politically position itself properly as an alternative home for voters. Alba has to be something other than the party that 'wants independence a bit more than the SNP'.

It is not an exaggeration to say that the decision on who is the leader is existential.

There are two candidates for leader.

Kenny MacAskill has been Deputy leader for the last four years, he is a former Justice Secretary in Salmond's government and is running as the continuity candidate. Kenny has the support of the Salmond family however other than Salmond's wife, the Salmond family have their own political ambitions and of course they should not have any more say than any other member.

Kenny has been campaigning to save Grangemouth without success. At the 24 General Election instead of standing in the constituency he represented at Westminster, Kenny chose to stand in the Grangemouth and Alloa constituency. This pitted him against former Alba Equalities Convener Eva Comrie. Kenny polled just 1.5%, whereas Eva polled 2.2%. Even if we add the votes for both candidates together this is not enough for a list seat.

The second candidate to be Alba leader is Ash Regan MSP, who joined Alba in late October '23.

Ash is the only minister to resign from the Scottish Government on principle. Ash's resignation was the first domino in the downfall of Nicola Sturgeon and Ash inspired women to keep fighting GRR Self-id, with some success as the GRR bill is no more.

Ash is incredibly popular amongst women and women's groups and her election would likely solve Alba's women problem.

For several years Ash was a member of The Common Weal, a policy think tank. Ash understands the process of policy development and the importance of policy development. Ash is at present taking a bill through Holyrood with cross-party support.

Ash's plan for independence is that a majority in an election for pro-independence parties is a mandate for independence and she would commence negotiations with Westminster.

Alex asked Ash to be his deputy shortly before he sadly died RIP. This move by Alex was not necessarily a snub to Kenny rather it was generally understood that Kenny was looking towards retirement.

Ash has a platform as an MSP and she uses it well. Ash's social media generates a lot of engagement and Ash can command coverage in the mainstream media having built strong relationships with political journalists.

 To remain viable Alba must have MSPs elected at the Holyrood '26 election.

Ash will give the Alba Party the profile, and political positioning it needs, to achieve electoral success.

My steer for members, if you want Alba to survive vote Ash Regan for leader.