ALBA Party members have voted to back scrapping the monarchy in the event of Scottish independence.
At the party’s inaugural conference on Saturday, members voted in favour of a resolution which would hand powers similar to the President of Ireland to an elected head of state in an independent Scotland.
The resolution did not go to a vote but was passed by an “overwhelming majority”, according to conference convener Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh (below).
Under Alba plans, the monarchy would be replaced after the Queen’s reign has ended.
Members also voted, in the same motion, to back calls for a written constitution to be put in place in an independent Scotland.
Aberdeenshire councillor Leigh Wilson, who spoke in favour of the motion, said: “Alba is a new political party offering fresh ideas for the new independent nation we wish Scotland to become.
“One of those fresh ideas is an elected head of state and written constitution where the people, the citizens of Scotland are sovereign.
“The motion also specifically commits an independent Scotland to having an elected head of state, with similar power to the President of Ireland, once the term of the existing highly respected head of state is over.
“Alba is offering a vision of a modern Head of State for a modern nation, taking its rightful place among the other nations of Europe and of the world, as part of a written constitution, subject to the final say of the people on the proposed constitution in a referendum.”
To draft a written constitution, the motion proposes a series of citizens assemblies, with the final document to be confirmed by a referendum.
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