John Cowie on Twitter: "Asking pertinent questions at the Craig Murray talk and Tasmina went ballistic."
— John Cowie 'Facts are chiels that winna ding' (@joco2014) April 27, 2025
😂
Craig Murray talk.
— John Cowie 'Facts are chiels that winna ding' (@joco2014) April 27, 2025
Tasmina and husband turned up and sat right at the front.
Not happy bunnies
So Tasmina is against the SNP 1 ALBA 2 policy ?
— Denise Findlay 💚🤍💜 (@gracebrod1e) April 27, 2025
She hotly denied it was ALBA policy Denise. Very angry & indignant. Accusing me of not being for independence & causing division.
— John Cowie 'Facts are chiels that winna ding' (@joco2014) April 27, 2025
The ALBA Failed Clique find it impossible to admit that Alba's incomprehensible 'strategy' is SNP1/ALBA2 ad nauseum.
It's illogical & sign of failure
Now naturally I strongly disagree with the main point John Cowie is making here. Leaving aside the usual highly misleading shorthand about "1 and 2" (there are no numbers involved in the Holyrood voting system), it would obviously be extremely sensible for Alba to get behind an SNP constituency vote at next year's election. That's what they did in 2021 (their Party Election Broadcast even displayed a graphic of a cross marked in the SNP box on the constituency ballot), and their real mistake was in ever moving away from that.
But there are two issues about this incident. Firstly, it's yet another demonstration of the contemptuous and often downright sinister treatment of Alba members by the party's unelected Chair, Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, who everyone knows has total dictatorial control of the party (with an elected "leader" there mainly as window-dressing). She is utterly unable to cope with any interaction with party members that is not of the "how we adore you, our queen" variety.
John Cowie can doubtless look forward to a tap on the shoulder from the Enforcement Team in the near future. But remember, Alba is a "member-led party" (no sniggering at the back).
Secondly, there's the confusion the incident causes over Alba's strategy for next year's election, which we had been assured would be a "list-only" strategy. Technically, it could be argued that Ahmed-Sheikh did not contradict that, because it's possible for Alba to stand only on the list while not urging their supporters to vote SNP on the constituency ballot. But the problem is that we've been repeatedly told that the reason for the list-only strategy is that it's a reversion to what Alex Salmond did in 2021, and in the Alex Salmond Memorial Party it's important to walk in Salmond Footsteps at all times. We know that actively supporting an SNP constituency vote was an indispensable part of Salmond's strategy in 2021.
Clearly some clarification is now required -
1) Is the list-only strategy still in place?
2) Will Alba be recommending an SNP constituency vote or not?
3) If not, why are you deviating from Alex Salmond's 2021 strategy? Surely you're not saying an infallible strategic genius got it wrong?
4) If you're not going to recommend an SNP constituency vote, will you at least be recommending that Alba supporters vote for a pro-independence party? Or will you be doing a Stuart Campbell and steering them towards unionist parties, including Reform? Surely that would be the end for Alba if you go down that road?
*. *. *
Meanwhile, pressure is mounting this morning on Alba councillor Chris Cullen (dubbed "the Crossmaglen Columbo") after a recording emerged of the Tory leader of South Ayrshire Council, Martin Dowey, promising multi-million-pound contracts to his "pals". Cullen is the owner of a local joinery business and is known to have controversial ties to Dowey and the ruling Tory group on the council. He was alleged to have entered into an informal deal with the Tories (often referred to as "that grubby Tory-Alba deal") that led to him replacing a Labour councillor as chair of a key committee around six months ago.
At this time there is no hard evidence to suggest that Cullen is one of the "pals" Dowey promised a contract to, or that Cullen's partner Shannon Donoghue, or his future mother-in-law Corri Wilson (Alba's new "Director of Operations") have benefitted financially. But questions are quite rightly being asked about what Cullen knew and when.
To be fair at conference Kenny Mccaskill did state clearly not to give away any strategy in public ( at conference ) we all know there will be plants in any party
ReplyDeleteAh, more secrets. No wonder that wasn't one of the "conference highlights" showcased on Slanszh Media's little-watched YouTube show Tas Is Talking.
DeleteWould this ‘secret strategy’ bear any relation to Nicola’s ‘secret plan’
DeleteSecrecy on this is daft. If Alba want people to vote in a certain way, they need to tell them. Some secrecy on tactics and detail would be understandable, but even this far out, if they want people to get behind a plan, they need to say what that plan is.
DeleteCorrect me if I'm wrong but didn't Alba post an hour long video from of their last conference where they debated and agreed upon the List Only strategy?
ReplyDeleteDid you see it on Tas Is Talking, or was it a standalone video?
DeleteIt has the 'Scotland Speaks' intro but then just jumps straight into the debate.
Delete"A Fiery Election Strategy Debate Heats up the ALBA Party Conference" 10:00 AM · Apr 19, 2025.
'Scotland speaks' but Scotland disnae listen !
DeleteScotland is bloody ungrateful not to listen when Tas Is Talking.
DeleteRealistically Alba, standing only on the regional list are reliant on the SNP winning a high number of constituency seats to maximise their chances of gaining list seats.
ReplyDeleteIf the SNP fail to win constituencies, they become eligible for more list seats to compensate, reducing the number of list seats available for Alba to win. Alba's best opportunity to gain any representation at all depends on the SNP winning as many constituency seats as possible in each region.
They should toddle off down the boulecard and have an Aperol Spritz. No names, Andy!!
DeleteIf unionist parties win 2-3 constituencies per region, this divides their list vote as well, making it easier for Alba to snap up the last list seat in the region.
DeleteWhen this happened in the Lothian region in 2016(unionist parties got 1 each), the SNP continued to get zero list seats. However, the Greens gained one of those.
And yes, they were accused of helping Ruth Davidson win Edinburgh Central by standing a candidate there to split the vote. 4644 Green votes vs a very slender Tory majority of 610. So what? It was a net gain of 1 seat for the Yes movement.
Kenny MacAskill sent this e-mail out to members on Friday 4th April:
ReplyDeleteThis time last week we had just finished day one of our rescheduled Annual Conference in Edinburgh. It was a very different conference to what we were used to as it was the first without our dear friend and former Leader, Alex Salmond.
However, it was one he would have been proud of. It was packed with intense debate and filled with optimism about the path ahead.
We agreed on our strategy to deliver Independence which we will take to doorsteps across Scotland over the next year. Independence can, and must, be delivered at the next Scottish Parliament election by a majority of votes for pro-Independence parties.
No more "Please sir, can we have another referendum?". We will neither demean ourselves, nor delude the Scottish people. The election for Holyrood in 2026 must be our Independence Day.
We also agreed that ALBA would contest in only the Regional List at next years election. We all know that over ONE MILLION list votes for the SNP were wasted in the 2021 election. Our task is to convince those Independence voters of the logic behind our position.
I am pleased to say that this has already started to gain some momentum. Just yesterday in a letter to the National, SNP Councillor Gordon Murray, backed our strategy and called for his colleagues in the SNP to do the same.
This was then followed up today by former SNP MSP Angus MacDonald who echoed Cllr Murray's call.
This is just the start, there will be more to come over the coming weeks. So watch this space.
That falls short of clarifying whether they are recommending an SNP vote on the constituency ballot.
DeleteMad Dog McEleny has also claimed multiple times that Alba members have not yet voted on an electoral strategy. He was at the conference, so presumably his claim must have some meaning to it.
DeleteIn theory they could weasel their way out of outright endorsing the SNP by just saying Yes 1, Alba 2.
DeleteRecommend voting for any pro-indy Party on the Constituency ballot (which realistically is the SNP, but they can avoid outright saying it).
It’s questionable whether Alba telling people to vote SNP in constituency vote would be good or bad. Alba are presently toxic. Will there be a clear out?
ReplyDeleteThe comedy bandwagon rolls on.
ReplyDeletePutting aside why on earth you still support clearly riddled NuSNP...
ReplyDeleteIn answer to point 2
Kenny MacAskill wrote in The National
'Contesting the list only while advising people to vote for other independence-supporting parties in the constituency. That will almost invariably be the SNP'
It's very apparent Failed ALBA clique cannot admit own party policy as it makes no sense. Eg Josh Robertson also denied it.
Josh Robertson is essentially a robot, so if he denied it, he must have been instructed to deny it. The question is by who?
DeleteCrazy Horse
DeleteDo you mean Daniel Jack? OK.
DeleteIs there an irony that the person being quote tweeted here has previously had this to say?
ReplyDelete"Thinking of re joining Alba as have a huge respect for Kenny MacAskill Left due to the dismal confusing strategy of pandering to the Snp Traitors instead of taking them on re this
Why alba poll so badly
atrocious email. Are Alba going to grow a spine+take on the snp in May26?"
Lol
DeletePandering to the SNP traitors? That’s Kenny is it not? What a shambles.
DeleteAlba seems to be simultaneously advocating for people to vote unionist and also supporting 'SNP traitors'.
ReplyDeleteNot sure how they've managed to be doing both depending on who you talk to.
Not hard at all - they simply keep contradicting themselves.
DeleteIs the sad reality of Alba was that it was formed to get Alex and Tasmina into Holyrood which gives status to them galavanting round Europe attending conferences
ReplyDeleteWho paid their expenses! ?
ReplyDeleteLillian Melville
DeleteThat’s hilarious in her wee heid isn’t it?
DeleteSearing analysis there.
DeleteWho are you talking to? Random comment there.
DeleteAlladin Sane
DeleteI'm glad you don't have to write only with letters that touch each other!
DeleteBit fragile?
DeleteStop ghosting me.
DeleteDo you know what ghosting means?
DeleteI have no idea how TAS is so influential within the ALBA party. Her experience as an elected politician is minimal and her public profile is negligible.
ReplyDeleteI'm aware that she gave Alex Salmond a helping hand behind the scenes for many years. Is that how she got to where she is?
"I'm aware that she gave Alex Salmond a helping hand"
DeleteThat's quite a direct way of putting it.
And a lot of money. She owns the party, literally. No one elected her as queen, it’s her possession.
DeleteApologies for being off topic.
ReplyDeleteJust wondering if anybody’s heard a recent update on when the CalMac ferry Glen Rosa is likely to enter service?
Or is it still too early to say?
Evening, KC. Why are you still here? Let me remind you of your own words: "I'm not going to post on your site anymore, James, I don't want to outstay my welcome."
DeleteKC you really are a boring old fart who just keeps repeating the same boring old lines.
DeleteI thought it was already in service? There was a non story about it having a cracked hull but it was repaired quickly.
DeleteKC, you've got a cracked skull.
DeleteAnon@11:00pm,
DeleteYou’re confusing Glen Rosa with Glen Sannox.
Glen Sannox entered service at the beginning of the year, about 7 years late.
Glen Rosa is not in service yet, and nobody knows when she will.
Happy to clarify for you.
5 years late, nobody lifted a hammer for two years
DeleteZzzzzzzzzz
DeleteAnon 11.28, Thanks for putting me right. Seven years over schedule, you say! Good grief. No fixed completion date for the second ship. That's incredible.
DeletePresumably then, the whole project is in danger of going over budget?
The above posts are a mixture of KC the Britnat prattling on about ferries and at 2.12am the zzzzzz man being his usual pratt. Both are a waste of space .
DeleteKeep it coming love because I'm your boogie man but not the queen of club.
DeleteMorning folks, Jimmy from Lamlash on the Isle of Arran here.
DeleteThey were talking aboot the end of the year for Glen Rosa entering service but it’s went quiet in recent weeks. God knows what’s going on. Nothing comes as a surprise anymore now though. Everybody on Arran’s pissed off, it’s a bloody disgrace.
Stay on the mainland and leave Arran to the britnats
DeleteBritain incapable of building a fast railway. Therefore Britain must not be independent. Make Britain part of Belgium.
DeleteIt's time.
DeleteNotre Précieuse Union Belge
Onze Waardevolle Belgische Unie
Surely the downside of the channel tunnel is that its full of Saxons and angles immigrants wanting to take over the Celtic nations
Delete"Morning folks, Jimmy from Lamlash on the Isle of Arran here."
DeleteI can just imagine KC frantically looking up the names of villages on Arran. "Lamlash, great. Now, what about Scotch boys' names..."
see you Jimmy
DeleteThe overall record of meeting sailing times of Cal McBrayne is the best in the U K. NHS performance in Scotland is the best in the U K. I could go on. The unionists liars probably don’t know that. Laugh at them and their ignorance and stupidity. The ferry contracts were badly handled. But no one is denying it. Move on.
DeleteWhen is the high speed train to connect the south to the north (Manchester, England) going to be finished? When will it be extended into Wales or to the real north? I see London is getting another couple of billions for a new road tunnel. They are stealing our resources and taxes. Wales exporting more energy to England than it uses -and water. Scotland ripped off with the oil and gas and imminent closure of Grangemouth. Ireland has no oil but has a refinery. The ferry is on the Clyde and will sail but hs2 which we pay for could build a 100 new ferries +
ReplyDeleteIt's not deflection, it's reality, and relevant for comparison purposes.
DeleteI like the new Queensferry bridge over the Forth, thank goodness the SNP sorted out the Edinburgh tram mess and Donald dewars dithering over Holyrood construction.
ReplyDeleteHonest enquiry!! How much is it to cross the Tay/ Forth/ Clyde/ Skye bridges these days after labours PFI. How much debt has labour left us with schools and hospitals to support US finance companies? I heard the successful border railway may be extended to Carlisle.I think that’s in England. Are we taken northern England over? They would be treated better.
ReplyDeleteI hear General Wade is intending to duel the A9 soon. He apologises for the delay of 200 years but he had deal with some pesky natives first. Once completed Keir Starmer will open the road to confirm the benefits of the union. The Boris road bridge to Ireland will not be confirmed soon due to the English offloading millions of tons of munitions into the Irish ( soon to be called Scotlands)sea preventing construction. Monies will be diverted to London (England) because they are more important.
ReplyDelete“The Sea of Britain,” surely. And force the Irish to pay for the ink.
DeleteBeen busy so catching up.
ReplyDelete1. Josh Robertson replied to me on Twit that ALBA wasn't advocating SNP on constituency. So disingenous to insult everyone's intelligence by coyly denying the obvious which only underlines they are not being straightforward or confident about their 'strategy. They know it's not popular and amusingly Robert Reid also denies it in the video clip of conference referenced above.
When I responded to Josh Robertson with direct quotes from Kenny MacAskill's article in The National, ie 'invariably" vote SNP1 , stony silence
2. Yes I wrote about hoping Kenny MacAskill would herald changes. Alas not. He frankly looks terrified/nobbled
The email reference was the final straw for me and when I left ALBa. It was an email detailing the strategy post NuSNP rout at General Election when NuSNP lost 80 % of their MPS due to their egregious treachery on multiple levels. Instead of ALBA stepping into the breach, ALBA stepped in to prop them up. Dismal and huge opportunitiy squandered.
3. Anyone still supporting NuSNP and believing they are for independence is, at best, been living under a rock for 5 years, at worst, disingenous.
Noticeably some baulk at the term Traitors. Dictionary definition is those who beytray someone or a cause.
ReplyDeleteAs a former, long term supporter of the SNP, was a difficult realisation that that is exactly what they are.
James Kelly writes well, but denying the abject, unavoidable truth about hijacked SNP does nobody any favours, especially himself.