Welcome to the transition between 2024 and 2025 - it's already 2025 in Australia, New Zealand, Korea and quite a few other countries. Unless the Alba Party's Appeals Committee takes a more enlightened attitude than I've encountered thus far, I'd imagine the coming year will see me being forced (and quite early on, in fact) to find a new political home in a different party. That means I'm unlikely to have a vote in the Alba leadership election, which is also just around the corner. If the media is to be believed, that election will boil down to a contest between Kenny MacAskill and Ash Regan, but crucially with Chris McEleny functioning as Ms Regan's éminence grise. The ideological and personality fissures between the two camps have fascinatingly exploded into public view over the last 24 hours with a series of remarkably blunt tweets from Mr MacAskill -
Whilst the office of head of state requires to be respected there are office holders who hold views or conduct themselves in ways that are unacceptable. Working with them where required is essential but cosying up to them most certainly isn’t.
— Kenny MacAskill (@KennyMacAskill) December 30, 2024
Some recent social media comments bright this old tune to mind. pic.twitter.com/ePduUzC0Xm
— Kenny MacAskill (@KennyMacAskill) December 30, 2024
Mmmh probably the most research he’s done in the last 6 months. https://t.co/5xhKK0Wm4w
— Kenny MacAskill (@KennyMacAskill) December 30, 2024
Chasing the reform vote rather than acknowledging legitimate fears but defending values and beliefs which are sacrosanct.
— Kenny MacAskill (@KennyMacAskill) December 30, 2024
It’ll be MAGA on his hat next. https://t.co/EBV3Bh5tvd
Says Reform boy! https://t.co/mHVjPjJUUH
— Kenny MacAskill (@KennyMacAskill) December 30, 2024
The war machine. It’ll be Israel and trident next https://t.co/kLLhI2uMyx
— Kenny MacAskill (@KennyMacAskill) December 30, 2024
These tweets are examples of Mr MacAskill doing what Yvonne Ridley would call "not holding his water", ie. bringing a rift out into the open, rather than conveniently letting people plot against him in private without any response. I must say I very much approve of his new approach. What he's saying doesn't really require a lot of interpreting - he's criticising the people in the top reaches of Alba (including the McEleny/Regan axis) who have been paying homage to Elon Musk, a man whose politics are no longer ambiguous or subtle in any way - he just seeks out the far-right option in every country and throws his weight 100% behind it.
Mr MacAskill is also laying down a marker that his own vision for Alba is that of a classically left-wing party, in contrast to the McEleny vision of a populist Frankenstein's monster which draws ideas from both the right-wing and the left-wing. The latter is not necessarily fascism but it certainly describes how fascism started in Italy a century ago.
If that's the faultline, I don't think there can be much doubt that I'd want Mr MacAskill to come out on top, even if I'm no longer in the party when the election is held. Don't get me wrong - a win for Mr MacAskill will not solve all of Alba's problems, many of which are very deep-seated and to do with cliquishness and an authoritarian culture. But at least from an ideological and policy point of view, it looks like it would be a step in the right direction. What's more, if Mr MacAskill does stand, my gut feeling is that he'll probably defeat Ash Regan - although as the ultimate machine politician Chris McEleny will doubtless try just about anything to seal the deal for Ms Regan.
Some readers may remember that when Jeffrey Archer was selected as the Tory candidate for London mayor, the BBC journalist Michael Crick contacted the then Tory leader William Hague and basically said "look, I know this isn't the done thing for a journalist, but these are extraordinary circumstances and I really do feel honour-bound to let you know that on the basis of information at my disposal, I know for sure that Archer isn't a fit and proper person to hold major political office, and it would be in the overwhelming public interest for you to replace him as the candidate". Hague didn't heed that warning and lived to bitterly regret it.
Let me put it this way for any Alba members who may be reading this: if you had seen Chris McEleny operating in private in the way that I and others have done, I have little doubt that you would reach exactly the same conclusion that I have - that he is not an appropriate person to put in control of any political party. I have no idea why Ash Regan seems to have been foolish enough to go into an alliance with him, but now that she has, it is without doubt in the best interests of the Alba party that someone other than her should become leader. Feel free to heed that advice or to ignore it, but I can promise you it is meant absolutely sincerely - and remember I am very close to having no skin in this particular game anyway.
Seems to me Regan and co are not fit, full stop.
ReplyDelete" I have no idea why Ash Regan seems to have been foolish enough to…"
DeleteI respect your tactfulness, James. I'll just "say the quiet part out loud" for the hard of reading among us: Ash gave every impression of being a fool in the SNP leadership contest of 2022 and she's lived up to that reputation in her career in Alba, too.
Vote Ash, Get Chris. What a winning formula!
A hard earned and fully deserved reputation.
DeleteWhy are you expending energy on these muppets?
ReplyDeleteYou could say them: "Have a nice life... somewhere else."
ReplyDeleteI cracked up when I saw somebody saying that on Judge Judy.
If it were based purely on merit (when does that ever happen, anywhere), KM would win easily. Ash Regan has admirably shown herself to be true to her convictions in her political career but unfortunately, she has very limited leadership qualities.
ReplyDeleteShe was toe curlingly bad at times in the SNP leadership contest. Despite being the only one of the three with a coherent and popular message she simply didn't have the dynamism to get it across. Sensible Kate and Polished Humza were streets ahead.
Kenny is one of the most astute and intelligent politicians in Scotland. That might be damning him with faint praise but in comparison with some of the competition, from the hapless Sarwar, the barking Lorna Slater and the plastic careerists such as Robinson and Macallan, he has more talent in his little finger.
He's something of a maverick for sure but they tend do go well in politics. If he were to win and the McEleny cabal slither away to another project elsewhere, Alba might just have a glimmer.
Yup.
DeleteIf he were to win and the McEleny cabal slither away to another project elsewhere, Alba might just have a glimmer. I agree 100% as I do believe Kenny is a strong leader, & hopefully he will work with every true Indy party & I4I's..
DeleteWho is G Spence? Is he someone important? I've never heard of him. Why is Kenny M replying to a nobody? I think Ash is very silly to be following McEleny to the right. If she does so, she can never be leader of ALBA.
DeleteIf you analyse the rise of Reform in Scotland and conclude ALBA could capture some votes from Reform, you are an idiot.
Reform have just taken a big chunk of the Tory vote. Why would they ever vote ALBA or even devolutionist SNP?
Well, in October 2012 at the SNP conference, live on TV there was an intense debate about NATO, a vital one I thought for Independence as the previous Partners for Peace stance would have had Better Together laughing all the way to a massive NO vote. And the fiercest and most passionate speech was by none other than Kenny MacAskill. I just looked it up, and there's this:
ReplyDelete"The highlight was probably Kenny MacAskill, the justice secretary, who supported the leadership. "I'm no US poster boy," he said."
https://www.theguardian.com/politics/blog/2012/oct/19/snp-conference-nato-debate-live-blog
Indeed, and some perhaps many, think Megrahi was one of Scotland's finest hours as the US tried everything to pressurise him and Salmond to change their minds over early compassionate release, part of OUR Law. Get lost, and the FBI ex-director, this is Scotland not part of the USA.
So yeah, Alba needs him as its leader.
I was at that conference & Kenny was brilliant, and was proved right, we should NEVER have accepted joining NATO..As for Megrahi, I believe he did the right thing, & in doing so he stood up to the Yanks again..These R qualities we need in a leader in Scotland, I would consider joining ALBA again if Kenny was leader..
DeleteKenny MacAskill supported the leadership, which was FOR full Nato membership, even though he was against nuclear weapons. He said he wanted to win in 2014. I watched the full debate on TV as it was crucial (in my opinion) to winning in 2014, and MacAskill was very passionate and genuine.
DeleteDepressing stuff from Alba. Unless McKaskill can get in and remove the half wit brigade it’s a busted flush. Anyone wanting cheered up, have a wee look at btl on WOS. We all know where a big chunk of the Reform support is coming from. Staunch anyone? Old lizzy thought they were a shower of arseholes. She was right. Comedy gold.
ReplyDeleteThe late Majesty's opinions haven't gone down well with her most loyal subjects 🤣
DeleteThey had a high heid yin from the Orange Order claiming it was a remark taken out of context. Comedy gold indeed. Lizzy thinks you are wankers. She’s right. P S I know she’s dead but she believes in God so she still thinks you are wankers. So does God apparently. Maybe need to change the words to your wee tunes a bit.
DeleteWhat do you think any of them *did* though, Stu? Besides for commenting and up/downvoting.
DeleteNothing will happen for independence while all of us are sitting on our arses, moaning about it. Get behind something, or pull the trigger on your own Wings Party at last. Labour's doing so poorly now the time is ripe for a pro-independence alternative to your hated SNP. Choose one or make one.
Maybe you'll win 23m votes, too…
Wings Party! 😂
DeleteWonder if Campbell tried to talk Salmond into heading it. Both of them had massive egos, what could possibly go wrong?
DeleteOne of the mysteries of recent times was Wings's tepid support for Alba at all. Sure, Campbell despised the name, but wasn't this exactly the political vehicle he'd been advocating for on Wings for years? And wasn't it headed by the most qualified and well known man in the Yes movement? I expected Wings to turn into The Alba Blog and to push it hard, hard, hard, relentlessly.
But he barely even mentioned them. I don't get it. It didn't seem to just be personal animosity as Stu and Eck shared the stage at those live events he promoted easily enough. Yet the party, the actual means to make a dent on Sturgeon's SNP, he just wouldn't deign to touch.
Campbell is full of it.
DeleteAnon at 9.22. He did the groundwork for forming a party some years ago. He discovered that outwith his own wee group of mouth frothers numbering low single hundreds, he had absolutely no profile whatsoever. He wisely retreated back into his online bubble. He does continue to extract money from the stupid brigade who follow his every proclamation with cult like belief. He deserves credit for that.
DeleteThere's 6 comments to here. Not just 3. Somethings dodgy somewhere.
ReplyDeleteRFK has entered the chat.
Delete..... a logical and well argued synopsis of the leadership contest by you, James .... and no one could accuse you of ""being on the fence" ... for the record, I think you're correct in your support of MacAskill for leadership of the Alba Party .... he is 'light years' ahead of Ash Regan in terms of political gravitas, thinking & communication .... I do admire her passion and commitment to Scottish Independence .... but she is lacking in the political skills required regarding a Leadership role.
ReplyDeleteShe is not the sharpest tool in the box, let’s be honest.
DeleteDon't bring a butter knife to a cutlery fight.
DeleteBring paper and stone.
DeleteOr as our dear dear friend Constantine Mudge always advises, "Please do not use a courgette slicer to zest a lime."
DeleteWise words yet again.
I'd love to know if Constantine Mudge has visited many of Europe's old families this year. The Droste-Hulshoffs of Westphalia used to cherish his visits.
DeleteThis is why I am now regarded as Scotland's premier political thinker.
DeleteI feel compelled to raise my pen in disagreement with that last statement!
DeleteI've been saying for years now that Celine Gottwald is someone we need to be listening to.
DeleteAnd Cherry supported her in her election failure as snp leader.
ReplyDeleteThe sketch on “Queen of the New Year” wi Murrell and wee Sturgeon in the campervan and the polis chasing them was class.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant.
Still some are easily pleased.
DeleteLet’s repeat a lie and eventually…..
DeleteAnon at 12.14. You start the way you mean to go on. Being a lying little prick and doing the MSM and BBCs work for them. Well done moron.
DeleteAnon@12:48 appears someone that’s had a sense of humour bypass.
DeleteOr is it him that’s the moron?
Has there ever been an SNP version of "Only An Excuse"?
DeleteIf not, why not?
Pretty sure that's what Humza was doing during his stint at Bute House.
DeleteDouble thumbs up to camera.
note the clever reference to the fantastic movie "badlands" by terrence malick, starring very young sissy spacek and martin sheen
DeleteAnon at 8.49. Whoooosh. Want to buy a bridge?
DeleteStill let’s look forward to a prosperous new Year and independence
ReplyDeleteI'd love to pop in and see Ronnie and Liz today but I don't know anybody by those names.
DeleteI've already had to delete the first KC "Nessie" post of 2025 and it's not even 1am yet.
ReplyDeleteDid you take the hump James? I’ll get ma coat. Happy new year to all.
DeleteI'm a camel 🐫 too. Camel Pimsitt!
DeleteAlba won't make it to the 2026 elections, the false prophet is dead and they can't decide on the most genuine looking fake to take over so they're looking for Trump money to keep them alive, proving they were never about Scottish independence in the first place
ReplyDeleteIt was all about Salmond and his hatred of Sturgeon's success, now they have no purpose so they'e trying to invent one
Have to agree with this post. And no shortage of Alba agents. In common with WOS their only message/policy is SNP Baaad. Tedious nonentities. Onward to De Facto 2026. Swinney get your arse in gear or move over. This is final countdown territory. Farage will lead to the criminalisation of Indy.
DeleteIndy's legal now?
DeleteIs that what the Gold Standard Section 30 Begging Letter brigade actually think?
Farage will have to write a British Constitution to prohibit secession, like they did in Spain. As they say: best of luck with that. It's utterly impossible within the legal structures of the current UK state. He'd have to tear it up and start again, like a new French republic.
What success?
DeleteAnon at 9.29. 1st January and you have already secured first place in idiot of the year 2025. Congrats.
DeleteDecent KM offers hope for ALBA's success and an independent Scotland's flourishing. McEleny's 'I'm not a racist, but' pronouncement is an absolute red line; the closest I've come to considering leaving the party. Relieved there's a well-respected voice to knock it on the head.
ReplyDeleteMc Eleny as Farage's Gauleiter for Scotland ? Nightmare scenario. Regan is making a big mistake. If that faction prevails my list vote will have to go to the Greens - yuk !
ReplyDeleteAlba never really got off the ground because the voters aren't stupid, and arguing with themselves won't make the voters any dumber
ReplyDeleteWhat about all those voters going to Reform, though, even here in Scotland? Polling says it's sizeable, and a good chunk of them are Yessers too.
DeleteI wouldn't call them stupid ("deplorables!") but the establishment parties clearly disgust people now more than ever. Alba's unlikely to flourish, but the conditions are present for others.
I think James has covered how actually its much lower percentage of Yes/SNP voters moving to Reform.
DeleteThat's not to say they don't exist if course.
Quite right. Reform's still predominantly No. But the figures I saw put its share of Yessers just behind Labour's, and far far ahead of the Tories and the Libs.
DeleteWhen folk are scunnered, they go wherever they feel their disgust can best be heard. That applies to Yessers, too, who also have no good place to go.
The SNP GE 2024 voters aren’t moving to Reform but these are SNP core vote as the SNP did badly. The GE 2024 Labour voters who were formerly SNP - the ones the SNP needs to win back may well be moving to Reform
DeleteI am distrustful of the polls as the National seems to have moved from ‘Indy Ref 2 is ON’ to a succession election f comfort polling headlines.
The polls are objectively better for the SNP now than last year. They were in a sorry state, got hammered in the election, then recovered a fair bit thanks to Starmer. So the National's playing fair, there.
DeleteAs for "READY FOR THE FIRING GUN!", obviously not a single soul in all of Scotland believes we're on the brink of Indyref2 now. When even the National's silent on that front, you know we're in trouble.
Much to my continued frustration, I can see Swinney's devolutionist SNP prospering in the present political environment, and independence remaining as untouched as it's been the last 10 years. Something still has to give.
Anyone in Scotland contemplating voting for Farage's mob needs psychiatric help.
DeleteThe BBC's certainly pushing the idea on people. The Beeb loves Farage. He's been their potted fascist for 20 years already and the project's finally coming to fruition.
DeleteWithout the industrial strength oxygen of publicity he's gotten in his hundreds of hours spouting his bile on the tax-payer's funded Government Broadcaster, he'd still be an ugly toad with no mates and no more attention than the next cabbie.
In many ways people cease to exist, ultra vires, of course.
ReplyDeleteWould it not in that case
DeleteBe simpler for the government
To dissolve the people
And elect another?
—Brecht "The Solution"
Of course you do my bright little poo,
DeleteI've miles and miles of files
Pretty files of your forefather's fruit
And now to suit our Great computer,
You're magnetic ink.
If you were in Aviemore ill bet you'd sit in a chop shop rather than be out enjoying the magnificence of our British landscapes. The finest in the world.
DeleteAviemore is Scottish not British . Aye mind that the roman province of Britannia never included Scotland . British only in the eyes of recent settlers.
DeleteAnd mind the "Britons" the Romans colonised were Celts. Their language and culture was obliterated by the invading Saxons after Rome's withdrawal. Scotland, Wales and Cornwall remained Celtic, and in our case: unconquered.
DeleteThe only people in Scotland moving to Reform will be some Tories and some Labour the majority of Labour will move to the SNP in fear
ReplyDeleteThis is the time for Scots voters to choose the right thing, and it won't be Reform, it'll be independence, because they've been left with nowhere else to turn by what they thought was own their precious union
Kenny is part of the poisonous clique that drove so many out of Alba
ReplyDeleteIf Ash ditches Chris then she’d be the best leader as she has no baggage and could regain those that have left
Kenny can’t or won’t
Ash is a bit dim. To put it politely. She couldn’t lead a well trained dog, let alone a party.
DeleteAsh Reagan couldn't lead a Conga. Shes a fraud.
DeleteEspecially the British nats
ReplyDeleteA new year laugh out loud at all the dimwits btl slagging off Regan. These are the same dimwits that voted for useless Yousaf who is a devolutionist and only lasted a year. Aye great judgement guys. You did what Stutgeon told you to do once again and once again she made you look like the fools you truly are. You should all have a collective new year resolution
ReplyDelete“fool I will not made be again by Sturgeon”
Simple minds (and those helping others cover their tracks) love nothing more than to talk about thermometers and post pictures of Alba politicians lining up with giant letters on a country road.
DeleteThat's quite enough ideological analysis, thank you very much.
You need to grow up. Ash is a committed supporter of Independence but she is pretty limited intellectually and politically. She would be a gift to unionists. The fact that you do not see her limitations is quite astonishing. Ash would be great to have with you on the campaign trail as a supporter. That is it.
DeleteAsh Regan would probably make a decent Advisor & is a good MSP but she's not got the qualities a Leader of a Party requires.
DeleteIn the SNP leadership contest she had the best policy ideas but was piss poor at communicating them effectively. People could see her reliance on notes and inexperience in debates. Yousef & Forbes were massively better communicators and getting members to resonate with what they were saying. Just having the best policy platform isn't enough, you need a Leader who can effectively get a message across, especially in an environment when you can't rely on a script.
Dimwits prefer a proven dimwit like Yousaf who is a devolutionist against a possible dimwit who wants independence.
DeleteNo wonder there has been no progress to Scottish independence when the SNP choose devolutionists like Yousaf and Swinney. Their personal attributes are of no value to Scottish independence. Only dimwits can’t see that.
Only dimwits can’t see that devolutionists won't suddenly go for independence but people who want independence can develop political skills .
Sturgeon had plenty of political skills but did nothing to get Scotland independent because she is a devolutionist just like Swinney and Yousaf. Only dimwits can’t see that.
Ash would get the female vote. A lot of people joined Alba because of the Alba stance on women’s rights and all the women who’ve been campaigning for those rights will be promoting Ash for leader whether they are members or not.
ReplyDeleteJoanna Cherry, Denise Findlay, Caroline McAllistair etc
As an outsider, I have no real interest in who becomes the next Alba Leader, as I see no real future for that Party.
ReplyDeleteBut, given Ash Reagan's latest attempt to ingratiate herself with trade union-bashing, fascist-parties-supporting and general Trumpist Toerag Musk, I wish any other contender all the best.
Under Ash's leadership, Alba would just be another Right-Wing Reform, wearing a kilt.
I think I'd say - don't underestimate Ash Regan.
ReplyDeleteAs for Musk and Trump, both are unavoidable, they are, and they will be, extremely powerful in world politics and economics, and it's plain daft to ignore them. Swinney has been back-pedaling on his daft open support for Hayes during that election; in his position he should have kept stumm, same as Starmer did.
Regan suggested Musk should build some factory in Scotland - and he actually considered it even if to say no. Regan did International Relations, and there's quite the shortage of understanding of that in the Scottish Government. Whatever happens with Alba, she's one to watch - she's not afraid to put herself out there and give opinions.
At the very least she'd be an asset to Independent Scotland.
I'd probably plump for Regan as well.
DeleteFresh face.
Or if nothing else. Just have them as leader and deputy