LEADING independence activists and an SNP MP have been elected to the inaugural committee of a new Yes campaign group.
Yes Alba, the creation of which has been spearheaded by All Under One Banner (AUOB), is to be officially launched in January.
It aims to give a voice to the grassroots of the independence movement and allow a campaign to be mobilised quickly.
The plan to set up the organisation was backed by the majority of the 1200 people who signed up for the AUOB online assembly last month.
A total of 45 people were seeking election to the 15-strong committee, with the results announced on social media.
Among the successful candidates was National columnist and former SNP MSP George Kerevan, who won the most votes with 247.
Next was historian, journalist and activist Craig Murray – who lost out on the SNP presidency to Michael Russell – with 197 and AUOB’s Neil Mackay with 179.
SNP MP Angus MacNeil also made the cut, winning 178 votes.
He will be joined on the committee by AUOB’s Andrew Wilson.
The other positions will be filled by Sheena Jardine, Suzanne Blackley, Mairianna Clyde, Ian Grant, Charlotte Ahmed, Keir McKechnie, Lyn Middleton, Gillian Mair, Linda McCorrison and Carol McNamara.
1/ YES ALBA - NATIONAL COMMITTEE (INAUGURAL) ELECTION RESULT 🏴
— All Under One Banner (@AUOBALBA) December 3, 2020
The total number of votes cast for each candidate have been tallied and the results for those fifteen with the highest number of votes are given in this table. pic.twitter.com/WzZd90w29P
READ MORE: AUOB to launch new pro-independence group in 2021
A total of 239 people took part in the vote, which took place over the past week and closed at 10am.
A statement from AUOB read: “Many congratulations to those who were successful. Together you will shoulder the task of establishing good governance for a new organisation and of achieving that quickly. Now progress demands discussion, hard work and compromise. This is surely progress for the Yes movement.
“It’s vital that this group meets urgently to build bonds of respect and common purpose and to get on with the most pressing tasks of establishing the organisation towards the 1st January 2021 launch.
“Given the number of nominations it was inevitable that many would not be elected. Whilst that will be a disappointment, a fantastic range of people nominated themselves. We hope this new organisation will utilise everyone’s skills, expertise and support as it comes into being.”
The creation of Yes Alba has been supported by SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford.
Speaking during the AUOB assembly, he said: “We are going to require a Yes movement to be in existence to fight a referendum and the earlier people start to think about that and how they wish to contribute, the better.
“I am very happy about an organic expression of support for independence and the movement coming together and providing the infrastructure for that.”
Questioned further, the Ross, Skye and Lochaber MP added: “I am happy to work with the entire movement and the party is committed to working with the movement to make sure we deliver the result we all want.”
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel