WE revealed earlier today that organisers behind a "grassroots" push to create a new pro-independence party would be meeting with the Electoral Commission next week ahead of the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections.
Figures, including former SNP and Solidarity councillor Pat Lee, will be meeting with the election watchdog in a bid to make the People’s Alliance a party in time for next year.
Almost 1600 people have so far signed up to the Facebook page of the People’s Alliance, with around 60 delegates from Yes groups attending a meeting this month in Glasgow.
But the news seems to have had divided reaction.
READ MORE: Yes group The People's Alliance hopes to form 'main opposition'
Some are not too impressed:
Total self defeating madness. What the Tories are praying for is that the independence movement beats itself with impatience, frustration and fragmentation. https://t.co/Ik2ObzipXq
— Pete Wishart (@PeteWishart) February 18, 2020
Which part of "United we stand, divided we fall" do they not understand?
— Nigel Ó Ceallacháin - Tories possibly eat kittens (@nigel_callaghan) February 18, 2020
You want #indyscotland? Everyone needs to get behind one movement, one party. We need an SNP govt with a clear majority & mandate for independence. After indy we can have as many wee parties as we want.
This is possibly as stupid an idea as the mathematically illiterate "Vote SNP 1&2" idea from last time. We're almost there, so what will we do? Oh I know, let's split the vote. Because that is what will happen. There is a fully established Yes party for second votes - the greens.
— Seona 🏴😁🏴 (@WiseShaz) February 18, 2020
Splitting the YES vote isn't very bright.
— Portknockieloon 🏴 (@Portknockieloon) February 18, 2020
1) We already have the Greens and SSP. Why waste resources on a new party when you can support them?
— Camern Archibald (@MammothWhale) February 18, 2020
2) This wouldn't be an issue if the SNP or SIC had given real resources to Yes branches to be more independent. https://t.co/usneCSRex9
It's an attempt to divide us. Nothing else.
— Steve Clare (@Steve__Clare) February 18, 2020
Some, on the other hand, are open to the move:
The Holyrood elections are only 15 months away & we need to elect as many Pro-Indy MSPs as possible.
— Craig Dempsey (@SaorAlba59) February 17, 2020
2016 SNP 1 & 2 vote didn't work
Over 953,000 votes only elected 4 MSPs for the SNP
Labour roughly haft the number of votes got them 21MSPs
We all need to think...& THINK SMART🏴🏴 pic.twitter.com/ePhQRVAFwY
This looks interesting and worth learning more about...
— Dr Paul Monaghan (@_PaulMonaghan) February 18, 2020
"New Yes party The People's Alliance hopes to 'form main opposition' for 2021"https://t.co/S43dgyiLOm
As there are more than 1 unionist parties, they are benefiting from the 2nd list vote.
— For ALL Scotland Supporters (@takeourblueback) February 18, 2020
SNP do not have another Indy party to vacuum up the 2nd list vote (ignoring the Marmite Greens).
We need a 2nd People's Alliance party for 2021 - Max the Indy list vote! https://t.co/Tjtveon7Ke
This looks like an interesting idea - certainly a discussion we need to be having.
— Germans for ScotRef (@Germans4indyref) February 18, 2020
New Yes group The People's Alliance hopes to 'form main opposition' for 2021 https://t.co/GOseBj7tE8
100% and if SNP don't buck up their ideas they can be replaced.
— David Whannel (@whannel) February 18, 2020
If they dislike the sound of any of this, host it this year, 12th December worked well...
Would come down to who can get us over the line, The Greens or this new party. Personally, the greens have made some wrong decisions so I would rather not vote for them, a Peoples Alliance is tempting.
— Pe Po (@pepo_pete) February 18, 2020
Lee told The National he was inspired to act after Stuart Campbell of Wings Over Scotland indicated that he may seek to form a new party to stand on the Scottish Parliament’s regional list.
He said: “A lot of people were talking the talk but not walking the walk.
“This is a platform for the Yes movement to have a voice within Holyrood.”
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