ANOTHER SNP MP has defected to join Alex Salmond’s Alba Party ahead of the Holyrood election.
Neale Hanvey has followed former justice secretary Kenny MacAskill in making the move, and is set to contest the mid-Scotland and Fife region in May’s vote.
The Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP told Sky News: "Like so many, I have been angered by our powerlessness in the face of Brexit and share the frustration of many who feel the aspirations of the independence movement are being ignored.
"The Alba Party provides a tonic for our movement with an unashamedly optimistic vision for Scotland's impending transition to an independent European nation."
READ MORE: Alex Salmond's Alba secures first defections from the SNP after launch
As well as MacAskill, SNP national equalities convener Lynne Anderson is also to join the Alba Party.
Hanvey was sacked from the SNP’s Westminster front bench in February after supporting a crowdfunder campaign to sue colleague Kirsty Blackman for defamation.
The MP had previously been suspended ahead of the 2019 General Election party over antisemitic social media posts.
Last year, he was elected by members of the SNP’s National Executive Committee (NEC) to a position on the conduct board.
An SNP spokesman said: "The SNP is focused on tackling Covid-19 and securing a strong, fair and green recovery for Scotland as an independent country in a post-pandemic referendum.
"Only both votes SNP on May 6 can put Scotland's future in Scotland's hands - not Boris Johnson's."
Hanvey and MacAskill's switches prompted demands for both to stand down from Westminster.
READ MORE: Alex Salmond's Alba Party poses 'real threat' to the Union, David Mundell warns
Scottish Labour campaign co-chair Neil Bibby said: "Neale Hanvey and Kenny MacAskill must both stand down and give their constituents the chance to elect politicians more interested in guaranteeing Scotland's recovery than endlessly refighting yesterday's war."
Scottish LibDem campaign chair Alistair Carmichael MP added: "Like paint chipping off an old and decaying wall, Neale Hanvey's defection is the latest episode in the nationalists' bitter, twisted and divided civil war."
Salmond said that he "hopes and believes" there will be no need for the Alba MPs to take up their Westminster seats before long.
He told Times Radio: "I hope and believe that Scottish nationalists at Westminster will be looking to the day that he or she would be transferred to the Scottish Parliament and it's quite reasonable that Kenny MacAskill and Neale Hanvey think that that is going to be within this term of the parliament given the political opportunity that we now sense."
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