Alba....Alaba...Ali Baba...Alex Salmond's Fairy Tale

[Stavros]

The news that Alex Salmond, the former First Minister of Scotland who led his Scottissh National Party to defeat in the 2014 Independence Referendum, has created a new party, reminds one of Nigel Farage, another constant loser who can't let go of his shipwrecked plank. Because I don't live in Scotland I have no direct say in this fairy tale, in which a loser like Salmond, his reputation as a bully and a sex pest cemented into the public imagination, has any chance of achieving what breakaway parties rarely achieve -relevance

Are Scots going to vote for Alba? Does Salmond retain public, indeed, popular support, or is this new vehicle another form of what is seen as revenge on his protege Nicola Sturgeon and a feeling he has that he is no longer welcome in the SNP? His party is unlikely to split the Nationalist vote because he has already stated Alba will not contest seats directly with the SNP-

"Salmond said that the list-only party expected to field a minimum of four candidates in each regional list, with the aim of electing Alba MSPs from every area of Scotland. Salmond also announced he would be a list candidate in the north-east region for the Scottish parliament elections, which will be held on 6 May."
https://www.theguardian.com/politics...cal-party-alba

It is a pity that Scotland clings to Independence as a political objective, when for the benefit of the UK, the reformation of the country as a Federal Republic is to be preferred, or some form of Federation, rather than the 'Union' as it is currently known.

The irony is that the roots of Alba lie in the Greek for White, and the designation of Alba that morphed into Albion, an ancient name for Britain, with the weird possibiity that Albania is a relative, etymologically at least, though some might feel the politics of Scotland the politics of Albania are not so different. For another designation of Alba in its early days differentiated the Picts of what is now Northern Scotand from the rabble in the Southern area.

As Scotland began, so it has contined...

Scots, wha hae wi' Wallace bled,
Scots, wham Bruce has aften led;
Welcome to your gory bed,
Or to victory!

[Laphroaig]

I'm still undecided as to whether Salmond's intervention will be an aid or a hindrance but one thing is for certain, the sooner Scotland can get out of this toxic union the better. Hopefully Wales will see the light and then a united Ireland will let England wallow alone in it's self inflicted Brexit misery.

Promises were made and broken after the 2014 referendum. As a result reform is no longer seen as a viable option. That, along with the Brexit betrayal, will not be forgotten.

As for losers with a poor public reputation, you only have to look at Galloway on the other side...

[Stavros]

Tedious though it is to say, it is still too early to know what impact Brexit and the Covid Pandemic is going to have on politics in the UK in general, and Scotland in particular. The Independence idea is strong, but it seems the practical realities are as distant as they have always been, and I don't see Salmond helping the cause, it is pathetic really, and the sort of grandstanding that Galloway tried in the past with his own vanity project that went nowhere. It is sometimes hard to remember where Galloway comes from, as my instant reaction to his name is 'idiot' rather than 'Scot'. At least we won't have long to find out, given that the elections are in May.

What I also don't know is how resilient the Labour vote is in Scotland, as its apparent decline is - or ought to be- one of the bigest political stories of the decade, on a par with the collapse of the Socialist parties of Italy, France, Netherlands, and to some extent Germany too. I am not sure the Tories have made a good move wth Douglas Ross, as Ruth Davidson, for all the crap she often talks, is a fine performer and a robust debater. Had she wanted it, I think she could have a seat in Westminster and a stab at PM, but how much is just froth -dare I say, Scotch Mist?- I am still not sure, except for Ross who looks and sounds like a schooboy struggling with the grown-ups. After all, being effective on the telly is what did it for Boris, as with Blair -but not surly Brown.

[Laphroaig]

Brexit is already having a massive impact on the Scottish shellfish industry, ironically some of whom voted for it...

In theory Salmond's idea makes sense and they will undoubtedly get votes from independence supporters who for various reasons won't vote SNP. How many and whether SNP/Greens and Alba combined can reach the supermajority he's aiming for is up for debate.

As for Galloway...

https://twitter.com/georgegalloway/s...54488652288003

Starmer calling for Sturgeon to resign should she have been found to have broken the ministerial code while saying Hancock should remain in his position, despite being found to have broken the law in court sums up how out of touch and irrelevant Labour have become in Scotland.

Ruth Davidson used to have a decent reputation (for a Tory) in Scotland. However, a lot have seen the other side of Ruth during the desperate failed political assassination of Sturgeon and have changed their minds on her. Her successor as Scottish Conservative leader, Jackson Carlow, was a disaster and laughing stock. Douglas Ross is a clown who's not even well respected in his second job as a football linesman.

[Stavros]

Brexit is already having a massive impact on the Scottish shellfish industry, ironically some of whom voted for it...

In theory Salmond's idea makes sense and they will undoubtedly get votes from independence supporters who for various reasons won't vote SNP. How many and whether SNP/Greens and Alba combined can reach the supermajority he's aiming for is up for debate.

As for Galloway...

https://twitter.com/georgegalloway/s...54488652288003

Starmer calling for Sturgeon to resign should she have been found to have broken the ministerial code while saying Hancock should remain in his position, despite being found to have broken the law in court sums up how out of touch and irrelevant Labour have become in Scotland.

Ruth Davidson used to have a decent reputation (for a Tory) in Scotland. However, a lot have seen the other side of Ruth during the desperate failed political assassination of Sturgeon and have changed their minds on her. Her successor as Scottish Conservative leader, Jackson Carlow, was a disaster and laughing stock. Douglas Ross is a clown who's not even well respected in his second job as a football linesman.

At the moment, it is a treadmill, and I am not sure the May elections will change a lot, as from what you say the SNP may lose votes but not enough to benefit the other parties, setting aside the unknown support for Alba, though breakaway parties have a dismal history in the UK. We may have to wait another year for Covid to subsde and Brexit return to the top of the agenda for real chage to happen, if it is going to happen.

I was going to say something about Galloway, but he isn't worth the effort that it takes. And one notes his party has been a permanent flop since he started it, but it was always a one-man show. And thanks for the remark on Ross, I had no idea of his role as a linesman -there must be a joke in there somewhere, but I can't think of one.

[rodinuk]

And thanks for the remark on Ross, I had no idea of his role as a linesman -there must be a joke in there somewhere, but I can't think of one.

he’s already been sidelined *boom-boom*

[Stavros]

he’s already been sidelined *boom-boom*

Hmmm...not exactly Frankie Boyle material, Scotland's dark demonic destoyer. But it will do for now. Thanks!

[Laphroaig]

And thanks for the remark on Ross, I had no idea of his role as a linesman -there must be a joke in there somewhere, but I can't think of one.

He writes his own...

[Stavros]

He writes his own...

Nice one, Cyril!

[Laphroaig]

Polls these days seem to be notoriously unreliable but it's not looking good for Salmond's comeback.

https://archive.is/Haims