ALBA will not stand a candidate in the Western Isles at the next General Election, and incumbent MP Angus MacNeil has urged the SNP to do the same.
In a letter sent to the leaders of the two parties, the now-independent MP for Na h-Eileanan an Iar MacNeil urged cooperation through an “olive-branch approach”.
Writing to Alba leader Alex Salmond and SNP leader Humza Yousaf, MacNeil wrote: “Post the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election I think we must further develop our working together.
“We must ensure that at the next election, votes for independence are aggregated, and we work collaboratively, and we do not campaign in votes for narrow party advantage alone but aim higher to independence.
“With that in mind, I suggest that we start cooperating now, as we can see that support for independence is still strong in the Scottish population, despite the fortunes of various parties.
Olive branches should be offered between the pro-independence camps.
— Angus B MacNeil MP🇺🇦 (@AngusMacNeilSNP) October 13, 2023
My letter today to both @HumzaYousaf and @AlexSalmond pic.twitter.com/tWAEI1jQVu
“We can transform the electoral prospects of independence for the benefit of the people if we are bold enough, brave enough and big enough to cooperate. An olive-branch approach to one another for the independence cause, while respecting there will always be differences, is perhaps what is required.”
MacNeil was suspended from the SNP Westminster group after a public row with then-chief whip Brendan O’Hara.
Rather than retake the whip, MacNeil decided to sit as an independent at Westminster until “it is clear that the SNP are pursuing independence”. The SNP then expelled him from the party.
MacNeil has announced his intention to stand as an independent in his Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency at the next General Election, and he said Alba have agreed not to stand against him.
Salmond’s party have proposed a “Scotland United” approach to the next General Election, where only one independence-supporting candidate is stood in each constituency.
READ MORE: Third of voters back Alba Yes alliance plan at next election, poll finds
But it looks unlikely that the SNP will play ball. A spokesperson has insisted that “as for all elections, the SNP will be standing candidates in all Scottish constituencies in the upcoming General Election”.
Labour are standing Torcuil Crichton, the Daily Record’s former Westminster editor, in the Western Isles seat, which they have marked as a potential win in the next General Election.
In his letter to Salmond and Yousaf, MacNeil also spelled out his opposition to the strategy proposed by the SNP – to treat winning the “most seats” in Scotland as a mandate for independence.
MacNeil insisted that it should be a majority of votes, aggregated across all Yes-supporting parties.
He wrote: “We have to win a de-facto referendum in a First Past the Post system by winning credibly as in a referendum. That means with the majority of votes.
“However, we also need a majority of seats as the way then to have the parliamentarians to deliver that end. Nationally we can aggregate the votes but not obviously in a constituency for the seat.”
“However, I remain with my original point, it is now time to work together in parliament. There are many forces ranged against Scottish independence, continued division among those who should be working towards a common aim is surely counterproductive,” MacNeil added.
The MP had already written to Yousaf and Salmond in September, urging them to ditch "petty squabbles" and work together for independence.
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