ALEX Salmond has accepted a nomination to carry on as leader of Alba.
The former first minister said he was “proud” to lead the party as he outlined ambitious plans to establish the group as the third force in Scottish politics.
Ahead of Alba’s inaugural conference in September, Salmond hailed the party as the fastest-growing in Europe.
He told the Sunday Mail: “Alba is on the move and I am proud to accept the nomination to be the first-ever elected leader of this emerging party.
“We are heading for bronze medal position behind the SNP and Labour in Scottish politics.
“The difference is that Alba are now Europe’s fastest growing political party, and on the way up, while they are on the way down.”
READ MORE: Alex Salmond's Alba Party welcomes 65-year SNP veteran as 6000th member
The former SNP leader set up the party in the lead up to May’s Holyrood election.
Two MPs and several councillors defected from the SNP to Alba, but the party failed to win any seats in the Scottish Parliament election.
Salmond had hoped to help secure a pro-independence “supermajority”, but his party won just 1.7% of the regional vote.
Earlier this week, Alba welcomed its 6000th member.
SNP activist Moira Brown, who spent 65 years in the party, signed up for Alba saying she wanted faster progress to Scottish independence.
Salmond presented MBrown with a Scotland football strip with the number 6000 as he made a surprise visit to her home.
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