So it's creeping up now - on Saturday, the Alba Party's next National Council will be taking place in Edinburgh, and among other things it will be electing members of four committees (Finance, Disciplinary, Appeals and Conferences) plus one special Constitutional Review Group. I've put myself forward as a candidate for all five bodies, and yesterday I completed all the formalities, so I'll definitely be on the ballot form. If you're a National Council delegate, I'd be grateful if you'd consider me for your votes - and remember it's a preferential voting system, so if you decide to give someone else your first preference vote, there's still the option of giving me your second, third or other lower preference vote, and I'd be equally grateful for that. And although only delegates can vote, there's nothing to stop rank-and-file members contacting their own LACU's delegates and expressing their views - the party belongs to the members, after all.
And that latter point is one of the reasons I'm so keen to be on the Constitutional Review Group. The existence of that group will open up the possibility of future NEC elections being conducted by one member, one vote - something I will strongly support. But I think that's the minimum that should happen - I also think the other committees up for election on Saturday should in future be elected by the whole party membership. All members are subject to the party's disciplinary and appeals procedures, so there's an obvious stake for all members in being able to decide the composition of the Appeals and Disciplinary Committees. National conference is the supreme decision-making body of the party and is open to all members (albeit on a first come, first served basis), so again, a Conferences Committee determining how conference is run is one that should be accountable to, and thus elected by, all members.
It's important not to fall into the trap of thinking that Alba is already very slightly more democratic than the SNP and is therefore democratic enough. A new party should be aiming for something considerably more than a slight improvement on an older party with fossilised practices. Remember it's less than a quarter of a century since the SNP last held a leadership election in which only delegates could vote, which seems incredible in retrospect. Other internal election rules which survive in the SNP to the present day will seem outdated in due course, and actually Alba can help speed that process up by setting an example with an immaculate internal democracy.
There's also a practical reason why we need to outshine the SNP, though. Imagine you're an independence supporter thinking of joining a political party, and you have to choose between a large party that runs the Scottish Government, that has third party status at Westminster and is at 35% in the opinion polls, and a small opposition party that only has a handful of elected representatives and is at 2% in the polls. Why would you consider joining the smaller party? One reason you might be tempted is if you can see the smaller party is the far more democratic of the two and you can be confident your voice will count for something.
Although I've focussed on the constitutional reform issues in the above paragraphs, I'm standing across the board for the various committees and I'm very keen to serve in any capacity. I've been an elected member of the Appeals Committee for the last year, and before that I was on the Finance & Audit Committee in 2021-22 as an NEC nominee. If I'm elected to any of the committees you can be sure of my integrity, my unshakeable commitment to independence, my belief in fairness and transparency, and my impatience with any form of cliquishness.
A reminder also that after National Council is over on Saturday, the same venue will host a conference on the way forward for Yes, and that event will be open to both rank-and-file Alba members and the wider public.
I was going to reply to the two comments that were here earlier, although I see they've gone, possibly because they were fairly cheeky attempts to undermine James' whole pitch. But I do still want to say that the idea that a restricted franchise for internal elections is somehow a good thing because delegates "know the candidates better" just isn't borne out by what happens in reality. Some of the results we've seen over the last two years have been completely loopy and look much more like the result of backroom deals or people organising lots of buddies to be delegates so they can get elected. Sure, a well-known blogger like James might have a slight in-built advantage over other candidates in a one member, one vote election, but that's a lesser problem than the one we actually have right now. If you doubt that, a simple question: how do you explain the surprise runaway winner of the men's NEC election? I say "surprise", but of course whoever organised that outcome wouldn't have been surprised at all.
ReplyDeleteBest of luck, James, I don't have a vote this time because I'm not part of the magic circle, but I'd vote for you again if I could. One member one vote is definitely the way forward.
ReplyDeleteAm I correct that Allan Petrie's resignation from the NEC now means that exactly half of the NEC members who were elected refused to take up their positions on principle or resigned shortly afterwards on principle? It's obvious that all is not well. You've been on the right side of history on this, James, we need more democracy and openness.
ReplyDeleteI didn't know Alan Petrie had gone as well, that's unbelievable. What the heck has been going on?
DeleteHis main reason seemed to be that double standards had been applied in the application of the rules. Two members had been deemed to have "publicly resigned" from the party (meaning they're marked as needing special NEC permission to rejoin) when others in similar circumstances were treated very differently. I don't know if there's any link between that and the resignation of the other NEC members. Barrhead Boy said his decision was on principle but I'm unsure if he ever expanded on that.
DeleteNot an Alba member, but one thing I've noticed throughout my life is that the smaller or more "niche" an organisation is, the more likely it is to be riven by bitter disputes. It's an odd thing and you'd expect to reverse to be true.
DeleteAs a former member of a Haircut 100 fan club, I can attest to the truth of this!
DeleteI was a member of Alba but have let my membership lapse inadvertently due to my bank details changing but I keep reading NEC members resigning on here other places. There also seems to be a never ending election cycle of committees which gives me pause for thought about the direction and whether effort is being applied efficiently in an election year. I feel for Salmond and McAskill as they are serious politicians. If it was me I'd get rid of half of these committees and get back to basics. Campaign materials, NEC with branch heads, Conference for policy discussion. There is such a thing as too much democracy in a party in my view. End up getting nothing done. And if you think about it, Alex quite rightly should be steering the policies anyway. It's not a party of govt, it needs a few key policies and general principles the electorate understands.
DeleteIt's quite comical in a way, someone announces he's standing for certain committees, that reminds you of the existence of those committees, so you instantly decide "oh, those committees must be the problem!"
DeleteNo, the committees are not the problem. No, they aren't "getting in theway". No, there isn't "too much democracy" (that idea would raise a hollow laugh among many of us).
Try the complete opposite tack and you'd be getting warmer.
I agree with the other anon. Alba’s just starting out and should be relatively easy to run: have one NEC to manage party business and empower the leader and the handful of existing parliamentarians with policy direction. Alba’s focus must be on making its presence known to scunnered SNP voters. It’s not a government in waiting.
DeleteAlba surely shouldn’t make itself open to special interests capture like the Greens. Committees appointed by selectorates seem easy points of entry.
Sigh. The solution to that, as James has repeatedly pointed out, is to have the committees elected by the whole membership rather than cosy selectorates, not to abolish necessary committees. By the sounds of it, you're the same guy who wanted the NEC to function as both a disciplinary and appeals committee. A frankly ridiculous idea that would look embarrassing in a banana republic.
Delete"It's a political party, no the high court." Aye, try growing up.
Hi I'm the original anon who said I ha e pause for thought. What do you mean "grow up"? It's an opinion merely saying I think Alba could be better served with less of these committees and more focus on the basics. Don't think there's anything all that immature about that. I'm not looking for an argument, it was just an opinion. I note there are loads of elections for fairly innocuous things. No idea what you're on about high courts. Could it be people disagree with you and can be sincere about it, nah?
DeleteBest wishes for the elections James.
ReplyDeleteThe National’s reporting a Yes lead in a poll commissioned by Alba.
ReplyDeletehttps://www.thenational.scot/news/24077480.new-scottish-independence-poll-gives-yes-four-point-lead-union/
The No figure in North East Scotland is strikingly high though. What’s the error bounds on the subsamples I wonder?
James: do please apprise us at your earliest convenience when you know the result.
ReplyDeleteWhen are the results expected?
ReplyDeleteDon't know - perhaps 5.30pm (i.e. end of a normal working day) might be a reasonable guess?
ReplyDeleteIf correct we should know very soon.
DeleteOn past form it won't be today.
DeleteThanks for putting us out of our misery. Fingers crossed.
DeleteI don't know the allocation process involved in the Alba National Council but I would imagine that it would not be too dissimilar to that of the SNP National Council prior to the time of the referendum. Therefore there will not be a huge number of delegates. I cannot understand why the relevant ballot papers cannot be counted today and results given.
DeleteI expect there is a good reason.
DeleteI remember the last occasion when the vote was re-held. The reasons given seemed rather 'iffy'!
DeleteI'm sure it was all above board.
DeleteDoes anyone know if the results are announced yet?
ReplyDeleteAlex and Chris haven't decided yet!
ReplyDeleteWhen are the results expected?
DeleteAnon 7.54pm: any further info as to when Alba are likely to decide to announce these election results?
DeleteWho is this guy & why should I vote jim?
ReplyDelete