Gloves come off as Salmond aims to force an Indyref bill
Alex Salmond has declared the launch of his new political party could box Boris Johnson into a corner on the question of independence through achieving a super-majority of pro-independence MSPS in Holyrood. also challenged on whether his behaviour, admitted to be inappropriate in court, meant he was not an appropriate person to hold public office.
Mr Salmond, who was leader of the SNP twice and brought Scotland close to independence during the referendum in 2014, failed to offer an apology for his behaviour towards women despite being asked several times to do so.
Last March he was cleared of sexually assaulting nine women while he was Scotland's first minister. A jury found the former SNP leader not guilty on 12 of the sexual assault charges facing him, while another was found not proven.
Launching the new Alba Party that he will lead into the 2021 Holyrood elections while attempting to be elected in the North East region, Mr Salmond said the new party would be a fresh “political force” in Scotland.
He claimed a vote for the party would allow those who previously voted for the SNP on the both ballots to vote for a party committed to independence and more likely to return MSPS via the regional list.
This, Mr Salmond said, would give voters a chance to elect a “super-majority” – more than 86 – of pro-independence MSPS to Holyrood with the intent of heaping the pressure on the Prime Minister to accede to demands for Scottish independence.
He said: “The party’s strategic aims are clear and unambiguous – to achieve a successful, socially just and environmentally responsible independent country.
"The tactics are to stand on the regional list to secure the super-majority for independence in our Parliament.
"If Alba wins regional list
seats, the wasted votes end. The number of independence supporting MSPS in the Parliament could reach 90 or even more.
"The initiative for independence should then be led by the Parliament uniting the parties. Boris Johnson has already said no to the SNP proposals. He will find it much more difficult to say no to a Parliament and a country.
"And the independence debate will be recast not as the Tories against the SNP, but Boris Johnson against Scotland’s Parliament representing Scotland’s people.
"Today Alba are hoisting a flag in the wind – planting our saltire on a hill.”
The announcement from Mr Salmond is a move that is sure to further divide the wider Scottish independence movement. It also marks Mr Salmond’s return to frontline Scottish politics since he was acquitted of sexual offences in a trial in Edinburgh last year.
The launch is the latest twist in the tale of the breakdown of Mr Salmond and Ms Sturgeon’s relationship, which began when the Scottish Government investigated alleged incidences of sexual harassment against the former first minister.
The return of Mr Salmond to politics will see the two titans of the independence movement lock horns as Ms Sturgeon attempts to return a majority of SNP MSPS to Holyrood. The former first minister’s decision also comes only days after Mr Salmond said he would take fresh legal action due to the conduct of permanent secretary Leslie Evans following the publication of the Holyrood inquiry into the Scottish Government’s handling of harassment complaints against him.
The report found significant failings by the government in both its complaints process development and handling. However, in a separate investigation Ms Sturgeon was cleared of breaching the ministerial code.
Mr Salmond was challenged on his behaviour and his appropriateness to hold public office.
Denyinghisreturntopolitics was about revenge against Ms Sturgeon, Mr Salmond said he wished to “move on” from the scandal and repeatedly invoked the number of court cases and inquiries around his behaviour.
Asked whether he was still a “bully and a creep” or whether he had reformed his behavtheformerfirstministerwas
iour, Mr Salmond said: There is a reason for having court judgements and going to court and that is to establish things.
"There’s a reason we have juries and there is a reason for having charges and being able to answer them and the verdict matters. It matters not just to me, it matters to any decent democratic society.”
Asked whether he believed character mattered in an election, Mr Salmond said that is “exactly what an election is about”.
The Alba Party launch excites a Holyrood contest boiling down to whether the SNP can get an overall majority and who’ll come second. Suddenly independence comes to the fore and galvanises those who support that cause.
Criticism that it’s somehow gaming the system is absurd. The proportional list system and the D’hondt voting methodology that applies to it was brought in specifically to try and ensure there that couldn’t be a nationalist majority.
That mould was broken by
the SNP in 2011 but it remains a high hurdle to cross. But suggestions that it’s undemocratic bythosewhodesignedthevery system for a specific purpose is simply sour grapes.
But as a list party, Alba won’t beseekingtowinconvertsfrom those who oppose independence. They’ll neither be pitchingtothemnorexpectingbacking from them.
Instead they’ll focus on that admittedly quite substantial section of the electorate who support that cause. It’s to them that this party will appeal and it’s within the wider Yes Movementthatthere’llbeadynamic
and it will have an effect.
Many will have previously voted SNP and no doubt willcontinuetodosointheconstituency contests.
But two issues arise. There has been some dissent within the SNP and a new political home will appeal to many. More importantly, the SNP argumentfor"bothvotessnp”, both on constituency and list, will be challenged for two reasons.
Firstly, the arithmetic’s clear. In 2016, the SNP polled nearly a million list votes but returned just four list MSPS, none in two outofthesixregionalareas.on the latest polling they’d return none in any area.
Secondly, the independence super-majority being proclaimed by Alba Party will appeal to many independence supporters. There’s been frustration at inaction and a deference to Westminster. The idea that the Scottish Parliament can overcome a Boris Johnson veto will excite many.
Can they do it? Time will tell but the core vote certainly exists for it. The Greens will fear losing seats this election and the SNP will worry what the dynamic will be in Holyrood if they do succeed.