ALEX Salmond’s Alba party is set to update its independence strategy at the weekend by urging the Scottish Government to hold a special Holyrood election in October as a de facto referendum.
The party say the SNP have been too slow to react following the Supreme Court decision that Holyrood cannot legislate for a referendum without Westminster’s permission.
Members wish to see an independence convention established to direct the movement as well as a “campaign of popular demonstration, parliamentary interventions and international initiatives to enforce the multiple mandates for a referendum”.
However, the party say that any recourse to a de facto referendum poll at an election should be initiated this year on October 19 by the Scottish Parliament collapsing itself to hold an extraordinary election on that date.
READ MORE: Craig Murray to publish Stewart McDonald's emails after phishing scam
Delegates of Alba’s National Council will be asked to approve the position at Ayr Town Hall on Saturday in a motion brought forward by the party’s National Executive Committee.
Alba’s general secretary Chris McEleny said: “We are now several months on from the Supreme Court’s decision to block an independence referendum but there has been no response from the Scottish Government, it will be next month before the SNP meet to discuss the matter and their coalition Green partners have not spent a single day campaigning for independence.
READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon a long way from quitting despite rumours: Andy Maciver
“Alba Party members will tomorrow be asked to grasp the thistle and agree an updated strategy that will progress the campaign for Scotland’s independence with the urgency that is required.”
Saturday’s National Council will be convened by Alba’s party chair Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh and will feature speeches by Salmond as well as depute leader Kenny MacAskill and Westminster leader Neale Hanvey.
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