The ALBA Party has announced Angus Brendan MacNeil as its lead candidate for the Highlands and Islands Regional List ahead of the next Scottish Parliament election.
The former SNP MP represented Na h Eileanan an Iar at Westminster for 19 years from 2005 until 2024 before joining ALBA following the death of the party’s founder Alex Salmond.
Mr MacNeil said the upcoming election would be pivotal for the independence movement and the allocation of list votes.
“This election for Alba is about independence and, crucially, about making sure independence-supporting voters do not waste their list votes, as happened in 2021 and, according to polls, could happen to up to 30% of pro-independence votes in May.
“The ‘Both votes SNP’ message resulted in pro-independence list votes being effectively binned, which will make it easier for Reform, Labour and Conservative MSPs to be elected in May.
“While I still, of course, have many friends in the SNP, I find it deeply unfortunate that the SNP leadership is currently leading people up the garden path on independence by insisting people believe the UK Prime Minister will grant a referendum on independence, when they have clearly said they will not.
“However, Alba is here to help the SNP and its leadership, as any of the 56 list seats Alba wins will be at no cost to the SNP, who will win no list seats due to doing so well on the constituency ballots.
“Alba votes will instead potentially halve what Reform and others receive.
“This means that when Westminster refuses a referendum, we can call a special election at Holyrood on the matter of independence.
“So voting Alba causes consequences for Westminster when they refuse a referendum.
“I hope that the Highlands and Islands will have more than one Alba MSP working in Holyrood with other pro-independence parties such as the SNP, helping to provide a route to a democratic vote on Scotland’s independence.
“Historically, of course, Westminster has accepted elections as a route to independence from the UK for a staggering 19 countries since 1945.
“Scotland has opportunities, but we must create them for ourselves by all working together.
“List votes for Alba ensure cooperation among the independence parties.”
The Highlands and Islands Regional List will again be closely watched, with parties competing for list seats alongside constituency contests across the north.
