There has been some complaint that Alba are not standing in the Rutherglen by-election, with some suggesting that Alex Salmond should have stood in the constituency. Personally, I’m glad that Alex Salmond is not standing in Rutherglen, simply because he would be viewed as a carpetbagger with no connection to the area.
The whole offer by Alba not to stand came across to me as insincere and political theatrics, as I felt they weren’t going to stand anyway; had they done so they would be painted as the bad guys who cost the Yes movement a seat. I’m fairly certain that the SNP can manage that on their own, and a catastrophic loss there may hasten the departure of Humza Yousaf, allowing the SNP to finally face up to the position they have put themselves, and by extension, the Yes movement.
Alba must now look to the next Westminster election, and while concentrating on electing Hanvey and MacAskill may be a priority for some within the party, Alba must be considering standing in other seats at the next Westminster election. From my own experience, in this area, the party are trying not only to run before they can walk, but are expecting to take gold in the process. It’s all very well folk attending various Nation Council’s and assemblies, but if you cannot even hold a quorate LACU meeting, who exactly are you representing? We have to get the foundations right, and at this time, in this area at least, the foundations which were laid have not been built on. If we cannot get those basics right then we cannot raise funds, organise activists or campaign. In short, we cannot win.
I suppose the last question we have to consider going in to the Rutherglen by-election is: will Alba encourage their voters to “hold their noses” and vote SNP?
Given the reasons why people moved from SNP to Alba, a dignified silence would be welcome.
An Independent Scotsman 
For starters what is the point of being a political party if you aren’t going to field candidates.
Its been two years its time for Salmond to move on and leave politics for good, he needs to start and enjoy his retirement and leave the political scene.
He’s been the leader of the Alba Party for two years and has made no progress at winning seats.
His stupid idea of Scotland united is a dead fish in the water, the SNP & Greens aren’t interested in working with him and if hes the cause of Scotland progressing then do us a favor and leave quietly by the back door with your Tory buddies.
I’m a fan but its time for other to see reality Salmond is problem!
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I think the idea of a Scotland United coalition would be of more tactical sense at a Holyrood election, where only the wilfully obtuse are still punting/believing the SNP 1&2 strategy.
The SNP are slowly destroying themselves, and for too long the independence movement have put all our apples in one basket. If they rot the basket then we all lose – and what then?
Personally I’d prefer it if Alba boycotted all Westminster election and refused to recognise London’s authority. Second to that would be to win those seats and not take them, or the oath to the King.
As for not winning any seats (yet), their participation in the last Holyrood election came too late to be worthwhile, and as for the Local Authority elections, those are already heavily carved up already among the more established parties. There are few councillors on our councils who are independent, and many of them established themselves within a party, before going solo. Few of those get re-elected, and usually do so by putting in a heavy workload and becoming a well kent face in the community. In Alba’s case, they need to get the groundwork done by getting active in local community councils, trade unions and local initiatives, so that when the elections come around they are a known and trusted face, not an impersonal name on the ballot paper.
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