"From this day forth, it's DNA, NOT DEMOCRACY": Christina Hendry stakes her "right of blood" claim to control Alba, as she and the rest of the Junta taunt MacAskill and announce the world's most pointless revolution is ON!

I've rarely before had much sympathy for the views of the self-styled "straight-talking totally unfiltered independent woman" Shannon Cullen (formerly Donoghue), but I checked her Twitter account last night, and it confirmed the impression given by the MacAskill email that she and the rest of the Corri Nostra faction are loyally taking the view that Alba's death must be allowed to run its course under the constitutionally-legitimate current leadership of the party.  This may seem surprising (especially given that I recall her being as thick as thieves with Junta member Suzanne Blackley when we were all on the Constitution Review Group together in 2024) but everyone has a deeper loyalty, and I suspect Shannon's deepest loyalty of all is to her bank balance and to the avoidance of bankruptcy.  Once she twigged that she as an NEC member is personally financially liable for potentially vast sums, it was strictly no contest - Alba had to die so her chances of going shopping could live.

She will therefore be appalled at this message that has been sent out under the names of her old chum Suzanne, Christina "Of The Blood" Hendry and the rest of the wannabe Junta, and that was forwarded to me this morning.  I can't quite work out the method by which it was sent out - it seems to be formatted like an email, even though the Junta have been complaining all along about their inability to email the Alba membership directly with their plans for revolution.

I must just note the supreme irony of the Junta resting their case partly on legalistic arguments about the current NEC not being properly constituted.  Similar arguments have been made since Alba's earliest days - even when I was on the NEC in 2021-22, vacancies were not always filled by the correct constitutional process, and sometimes were not filled at all.  Similarly, there was never any constitutional basis for the stuffing of Conferences Committee meetings with non-elected individuals, but we were told it was fine because the NEC had the right to "interpret" the constitution in any way it pleased.  Blackley and Hendry were always totally unconcerned about these sleights-of-hand in the past (not least when Salmond unconstitutionally appointed Blackley herself to an office bearer position that should have automatically been filled by someone else), but suddenly, when it suits them, it becomes an issue.

I also gather there's a question mark over whether the Junta are being honest in signing off the message with the words "NEC member" against their names, because apparently some or all of them have resigned from the NEC.  But perhaps like all true revolutionaries they regard the body they've resigned from as "illegitimate", and the body they've unilaterally set up to replace it as the real thing.  Hendry is Of The Blood, remember.  She has the right to do these things.

"Subject: Formal Demand For An All Members Ballot on the Future of ALBA

Dear Colleagues,

It is 4pm on Friday, 27 February. Candidate registration deadlines are running. A membership ballot can be live within two hours if staff are permitted access to NationBuilder. That access must be granted immediately.

THE DEMAND

Hold an emergency membership ballot tomorrow, Saturday 28 February 2026.

Question: Should Alba Party contest the regional list ballot in the Scottish Parliament election on 7 May 2026?

YES – Alba fights. The party contests every regional list ballot on 7 May 2026 under new transitional leadership, giving pro-independence voters a home and building the Parliamentary Mandate Westminster cannot dismiss.

NO – Alba folds. The party de-registers, withdraws from May, and ceases to exist as a fighting force for independence.

Ballot opens: 10:00 Saturday 28 February

Ballot closes: 18:00 Saturday 28 February

Result announced: Saturday evening, publicly, binding on all parties.

WHAT MUST HAPPEN TODAY

1. reinstate suspended staff and permit immediate access to NationBuilder to set up the ballot. This takes two hours. There is still time.

2. issue voting instructions to all paid-up members by close of business today.

3. halt any de-registration process with immediate effect.

THE CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION

We have taken legal advice. The position is unambiguous.

The constitution contains no provision granting the NEC authority to de-register or dissolve the party. Section 5.1 defines National Conference as the supreme governing body. Section 14.5 requires a two-thirds majority at National Conference to change the constitution. De-registration is more consequential than any constitutional amendment. You have no authority to impose it without a membership vote.

Furthermore, the NEC may not be properly constituted. Section 12.4 requires vacancies to be filled immediately from the most recent ballot. That has not happened. An improperly constituted NEC cannot take binding decisions on behalf of this party.

THREE QUESTIONS – WRITTEN ANSWERS REQUIRED WITHIN 24 HOURS

1. Under what specific constitutional provision does the NEC claim authority to de-register the party without a membership vote?

2. How many NEC vacancies exist, when did they arise, and why have they not been filled under Section 12.4?

3. Will the current leadership halt de-registration and permit the ballot to proceed tomorrow?

Failure to respond will be treated as confirmation that no constitutional basis exists for your actions.

LACU FUNDS – NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION

We are aware the current leadership is attempting to claw back funds from Local Authority Campaign Units. We say clearly: there will be no taxation without representation of the membership bodies of the Alba Party.

LACU funds are controlled by LACU signatories – not HQ. We have taken legal advice. An improperly constituted NEC has no right to access or direct those funds. We are advising all LACU treasurers and convenors accordingly. No transfers should be authorised until the membership has voted.

Any attempt to access LACU funds before the ballot will be reflected in the legal action we are prepared to take.

Should the ballot not proceed and our questions remain unanswered, we will have no option but to invoke our constitutional right as serving NEC members to call a Special National Conference, with a vote of no confidence in the current leadership as the first item of business.

WE ARE PREPARED TO ACT

We have sought legal advice. Every lawful avenue is being pursued.

The clock is running. Permit the ballot. Let the members decide.

Yours sincerely,

Angus B MacNeil – Ordinary NEC Member

Tommy Sheridan – Ordinary NEC Member

Christina Hendry – Ordinary NEC Member

Suzanne Blackley – National Equalities Convenor

Alba Continuation Group"