Back in the spring, I exclusively broke the news on Scot Goes Pop (based on what I'd been told by a reliable source) that the Alba Party's disgraced former General Secretary Chris McEleny was refusing to step down as the party's Nominating Officer, and that under Electoral Commission rules, the Alba leadership had no power to remove him against his will. This left Alba in the extraordinary position that a man they had just expelled was in total control of the list of candidates they put forward for elections, and indeed had the power to block any Alba candidates from being put forward at all. McEleny's controversial Somerset-based blogger mate "Stew" swiftly ridiculed what I'd revealed, implying it was no more than a figment of my crazed imagination, but even at that stage a lot of the story was easily verifiable from information in the public domain on the Electoral Commission website, and now the rest of the story has been fully confirmed by the Sunday National, who several months later are the first mainstream media outlet to pick up on this latest crisis for Alba. They have a quote from McEleny in which he openly admits that he has remained the party's Nominating Officer since his expulsion. It appears that the Alba leadership are betting the house on legal action proving enough to dislodge McEleny without having to do any sort of deal with him - but based on my reading of the rules, that seems to be an extreme long shot.
A commenter on the previous thread asked for my reaction to the Sunday National piece, and you can hear it in the video below. A key question, of course, is what McEleny's motivations and intentions are - if he's just making a symbolic gesture and trying to make the Alba leadership sweat a bit, the consequences may not be all that severe. But if he's genuinely planning to use his full powers as Nominating Officer to block candidates from standing, it may be checkmate for Alba and they may be forced to start afresh by registering a new party with a new name.
Those of you who have been suffering withdrawal symptoms from my extensive Shannon Donoghue coverage earlier in the year will be delighted to hear that she does get a passing mention in the video. But please take this opportunity to update your Donoghue-related fan merchandise, because the Wedding of the Century has now TAKEN PLACE and she's therefore now called Shannon Cullen.
The fake rev gets little right these days. No doubt he will simply deny what is there in black and white and his ever deceasing band of gullible muppets will accept that. Beyond their comic value Alba is of no real import. They are doing nothing in the 2026 election, if they are still in existence then. They can always shift across to reform with their reverend pal.
ReplyDeleteWhat a waste of energy Alba has proved to be. We need those activists to strengthen efforts to change the independence strategy of the SNP.
ReplyDeleteThat's what disappoints me the most. As enjoyable as it is to watch a bunch of egotistical narcissists turn on each other like rats in a sack, it is a complete waste of energy that could have, and indeed used to be leading the charge for Indy.
DeleteIt's no coincidence that the SNP totally lost enthusiasm for independence once most of the main agitators left for Alba.
You're not seriously suggesting that Alba led the charge for independence are you?
DeleteRewriting history is usually reserved for the British
Alba led the charge for the destruction of Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP under the most egotistical spoilt big wean ever, that's why they are where they are, Scotland saw right through him and them, and no other reason
Seems to me it is the other way around. SNP back on track ALBA on self destruct.
DeleteNicola Sturgeon led the charge for the destruction of the indy movement, driving the bus over the cliff, supervised by her handler Leslie Evans, and all because she was scared MI5 would put it out she was a lezzy and her career would be over. She destroyed the hopes of us all because she didn't want it revealed she had lied about something no one cares about any more.
DeleteDrJim @9:00 PM: The claim is that many of the SNP members who had been the main drivers for pursuing independence left for Alba. If you disagree with that, I'm curious which individuals you would say actually were leading the charge.
DeleteDrJim @9.00pm so I assume you will agree that when the
DeleteSNP dropped from a high of 56MPs in 2015 to only 9 MPs in 2024 Scotland saw right through the SNP.
Or are you posting utter pish as usual and that’s why you post as anon rather than DrJim.
When are we getting indyref2 DrJim. You know, the thing Nicola promised for 7 years.
As Stewie and his dwindling band of halfwits get less and less relevant they seem to get more and more angry.
ReplyDeleteNeedless to say, he makes no mention of Alba's continuing chaos in his latest site-posting, but always has time for yet another dig at the SNP and anything they do.
He hangs around like a bad smell waiting to be fumigated.
If anything, I thought the Wings article wasn't cynical enough on this occasion.
DeleteAs I see it, the SNP / BiS love-in is timed to get the members on side pre conference so they'll rubber stamp the Swinney plan, and judging by the BTL comments on the National, it's achieved exactly that.
As I see it, Wings' one and only purpose now is to destroy the SNP.
DeleteNothing else.
Campbell and his band of cliquers live for exactly that and he and they have repeatedly shown their true colours as right wing, racist, genocide denying/excusing Reform wannabees.
About as far removed from Yessers as can be imagined.
I find it hard to disagree with that. He's very clearly anti-independence now, but can't quite bring himself to finally admit it, probably because he worries he would lose the pro-independence readers who've had just enough credulity to accept his "I *do* still support independence, I just hate everything about it and think you should vote against it" schtick.
DeleteIt would be enormously helpful if he would just admit it, because it would free up Yessers to full-bloodedly treat him as the ideological and philosophical opponent he's become.
James, he doesn't want to leave England !
DeleteI think Campbell will keep his powder dry until what he fervently hopes will happen, happens and Reform take power at Westminster.
DeleteThen he will admit what virtually everyone else already knows, that he backed them and voted for them.
As far as those totally gullible fools who still believe he actually supports Scottish independence, when that would inevitably mean a left of centre Scottish govt probably initially comprising SNP and Greens (the very parties he detests), he will keep milking those poor deluded slobs for another 4 years.
Why do people keep on reading the phoney rev's posts? I gave it up almost two years ago, when the only thing he wrote about was men in dresses. I haven't missed it at all.
DeleteI note that the great business mind that is the Big Dug is floating the idea of introducing a premium subscription that will give readers access to special premium WGD blogs.
ReplyDeleteSo with regard to innovative ideas for you to realise your fundraiser target can I suggest you start to sell a range of baseball caps stating MAKE THE SNP GREAT AGAIN. It could be an election winner for the SNP as well as a money maker for you. Another cap could say MAKE SCOTLAND INDEPENDENT AGAIN.
Hope this helps.
Good to see you shining the light on Alba,.Can we get another Wings Watch to keep Bathboy in check?
ReplyDeleteBathboy is finished. That’s why he’s touting himself to the far right and reform.
DeleteIs there any truth to mceleny having meetings with Stew in Bath? If he’s nominations officer he could submit a full on wings slate at the Holyrood election could he not ?
ReplyDeleteI don't know if he's literally been to Bath, but that doesn't really matter - the two of them are in constant contact, I don't think there's much doubt about that.
DeleteHe was seen there in the Ivy having lunch with the Rev. I definitely think McEleny will rebrand Alba as the wings party. Don’t think people realise the nominating position can let him change the party ballot name too without Kenny or Taz having a say. Vote Alba Party: Wings over Scotland
ReplyDelete