FORMER SNP MP George Kerevan and SNP Common Weal Group founder Craig Berry have announced they will quit the party to join Alex Salmond's Alba. 

The members of the SNP CWG group released a statement, along with Lynne Anderson who has already defected to Alba, this morning saying they had been working to promote progressive ideas within the SNP – but feel their efforts have been “thwarted”.

“In practical terms, the CWG has campaigned inside the SNP against the neoliberal Growth Commission report; advocated radical economic policies including the creation of the Scottish National Investment Bank and the Green New Deal; launched a People’s Manifesto for the May Holyrood elections calling for rent controls, a National Care Service and socialised public transport; and seen 11 of our supporters elected to the party’s national offices in a campaign for greater internal democracy,” they said.

READ MORE: Investment strategist Dr Jim Walker to stand for Alex Salmond's Alba Party

“Sadly, we have now concluded that our attempts both at winning the SNP to genuine radical, anti-market policies and in democratising the party’s internal life have been thwarted.

“While the SNP Government has a genuinely positive track record in social reforms, it has negated these by a drift to the right on vital economic issues.  The Scottish Government has appointed leading, pro-market business people to advise on economic ‘recovery’ and stuffed the board of the new National Investment Bank with the very bankers who caused the 2008 financial crash.

“Most recently, the Scottish Government has embraced the discredited Thatcherite policy of deregulated, anti-trades union Free Ports.”

The pair also expressed fears over the SNP’s internal democracy, saying: “Elected representatives of the party rank and file have been denied their legitimate voice at online meetings of the National Executive, branch motions to National Conference have been summarily ignored, and mandated national gatherings cancelled without explanation. Significant questions remained to be asked regarding party finances and internal paid appointments because of the non-functioning of the party finance committee.”

They say they believe the SNP “in its present state is unreformable” and have decided to seek membership of the Ala Party to “seek to build a left-wing, progressive wing of the independence movement elsewhere”.

READ MORE: Alba Party's Alex Arthur apologises for grossly offensive tweets

Kerevan and Berry add that while new parties are hard to make successful, they believe the Alba Party is a “cause for hope”.

Their decision to leave the SNP and join the Alba Party comes after investment strategist Dr Jim Walker was confirmed as a candidate this morning.

The chief economist will be returning from Hong Kong to stand o the Central Scotland list.

Last night, former boxing champion Alex Arthur was announced for the Lothian list. He later issued an apology after a series of offensive tweets were unveiled on his account.

Arthur’s posts included disparaging remarks about “beggars”, Gypsies and AIDS patients, as well as posts claiming he doesn’t need to get a coronavirus vaccine.

In January last year, he posted: “Them Romanian beggars in Edinburgh ain’t hungry!! Just drove past them all ready to switch up begging posts and ALL em fat as big juicy over fed pigs!”

In a statement issued on social media, he wrote: “I am a working class boxer who shoots from the hip. I don't have spin doctors. But I want to clarify some points, and apologise for any offence that could have been avoided if I'd thought more about my words.

READ MORE: Wee Ginger Dug: Will the Alba Party really tackle the Unionist seats?

“We were told that there was no evidence that the vaccine stops transmission, and as a young and healthy man I am not in any of the risk groups. Since then it's become clear that vaccinations are working, and are the way we will get out of this pandemic and all of the destruction it's causing.

“Any comments about beggars that now look inappropriate are being misinterpreted, but that is my fault for the wording. I am not in any way racist as anyone who knows me will confirm. I have an issue with genuine homelessness whoever it is, and will work to help tackle that. I have seen first-hand the damage that poverty causes.”

Arthur continued: “I apologise for any unintended offence, but do not want it to distract from my central cause which is ALL of the people who live in Scotland. I can add a lot of real life experience that professional politicians don't have, and we can't leave things to people who have never put a foot wrong.

“I will make no further comment On this, much as people want to cause me trouble for their own purposes.

“Now that I am trying to be a politician, I will not hold mytongue, but I will mind it.”