The week after the elections, Kamran Butt, who although not elected was the most successful Alba candidate, defected to the SNP. He claimed that joining the SNP was the only way that independence and strong governance can be delivered in Scotland. [59] The same day, Salmond stated that all pro-independence parties needed to work together if Scottish independence was to be achieved. He said that the proposed 2023 independence referendum would need to take place, but if it didn't then there would be huge political change in Scotland in which Alba would play a strong part. [60] Hassan, Gerry (10 May 2022). "The failure of Alba is a challenge and opportunity for independence". The National. Archived from the original on 10 May 2022 . Retrieved 10 May 2022.

MacAskill, Kenny (1 March 2017). "Kenny MacAskill: Left-wing nationalism is a far cry from racism". The Herald. The Alba Party is a Scottish nationalist and pro-independence political party in Scotland, founded in February 2021, led by former first minister of Scotland Alex Salmond. Salmond launched the party's 2021 Scottish Parliament election campaign in March 2021, with the party standing list-only candidates. Two members of Parliament (MPs) in the UK House of Commons defected from the Scottish National Party (SNP) to the Alba Party on 27 March 2021, and member of the Scottish parliament Ash Regan defected on 28 October 2023. Several former SNP MPs also joined the party. No Alba Party candidate has been elected at any election. Paletta, Daniele (12 April 2021). "ILGA World is appalled that false stories are circulating attempting to imply that ILGA World is advocating to lower or eliminate the age of consent". ILGA . Retrieved 1 September 2023. saor ( genitive singular masculine saoir, genitive singular feminine saoire, plural saora, comparative saoire) Campsie, Alison (6 May 2022). "Local elections 2022: Alex Salmond says Alba results 'very disappointing' as his 'best hope' polls 274 votes". The Scotsman . Retrieved 8 May 2022.The party failed to win any seats at the election, attracting 0.7% of first preference votes. [57] All of the councillors who defected to the party from the SNP failed to be elected, including Christopher McEleny, the party's General Secretary who only received 126 votes. In response to the result, Salmond expressed his disappointment with the outcome and said that it would take time for the party to build enough support to have candidates elected. [58] Further activities [ edit ] Barrie, Douglas (26 March 2021). "Action for Independence stands down candidates after Salmond announcement". www.standard.co.uk . Retrieved 28 March 2021.

Councillor McEleny, Chris". Inverclyde Council. Archived from the original on 23 January 2021 . Retrieved 26 March 2021. Richards, Xander (14 May 2022). "Kamran Butt: Most successful Alba election candidate defects to SNP". The National . Retrieved 16 May 2022. Alba Party: Former SNP councillor quits to join Alex Salmond". The Scotsman. 26 March 2021. Archived from the original on 27 March 2021 . Retrieved 26 March 2021. The party has not had any candidates directly elected. Their representatives, listed below, all defected having been elected as SNP candidates. [77] MPs [ edit ] Name a b "Where we stand - Elected Head of State and Written Constitution". ALBA . Retrieved 8 December 2021.Hutcheon, Paul (30 March 2021). "Boxer Alex Arthur apologises for "fat" beggars claim after being announced as candidate for Alex Salmond's Alba Party". The Record . Retrieved 30 March 2021. There has also been very good news on the recruitment front. When the band started, many pipers from competition bands across Scotland said they would love to join but felt they were unable to do so because they were already members of competition bands and couldn’t be members of any other band. Brooks, Libby (26 March 2021). "Scottish opposition offered easy hit by Alex Salmond party launch". The Guardian . Retrieved 28 March 2021. The party was founded and registered with the Electoral Commission by the retired television producer Laurie Flynn on 8 February 2021. [16] Alba (pronounced [ˈal̪ˠapə] in Scottish Gaelic and Scottish English, / ˈ æ l b ə/ in British English [17]) is the Gaelic name for Scotland. [18] On 26 March 2021, Salmond announced at the party's election launch that he had joined the party and would become the new leader, taking over from Flynn, after "discussions with Laurie and others from other list parties" over the prior weeks. [19] During the announcement of candidates, it gained its first elected member, councillor Chris McEleny, who previously had served as the SNP group leader on Inverclyde Council [20] and was due to be an SNP candidate for the 2021 Scottish Parliament election. [21] The MPs Kenny MacAskill and Neale Hanvey, as well as the former MP Corri Wilson, joined the party on 26 March. [22] [23] The SNP's national equalities convener, Lynne Anderson, also defected to Alba. [24] BBC Scotland's political editor Glenn Campbell said the list of defectors to the party included "those who fear that gender self-identification for trans people poses a threat to women's rights" as well as politicians who personally support Salmond and his approach to Scottish independence. [25] 2021 Scottish Parliament election [ edit ] The SNP's women's convener becomes latest politician to defect to the Alba Party". The National. 28 March 2021 . Retrieved 29 March 2021.

Webster, Laura (27 March 2021). "MP Kenny MacAskill quits SNP to join Alex Salmond's Alba Party". The National . Retrieved 27 March 2021. MP Kenny MacAskill quits SNP for new Alba Party". BBC News. 27 March 2021 . Retrieved 28 March 2021. Get:1 http://archive.ubuntu.com/ubuntu focal-updates/main amd64 python3-pil amd64 7.0.0-4ubuntu0.4 [363 kB] Alba announced they would not contest the upcoming Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, called after former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier was suspended from the House of Commons and recalled from her seat for breaching COVID-19 regulations. They accused the SNP of rebuffing their call for only one pro-independence candidate and said that this would give SNP the opportunity to “fly solo” in the ballot. [62] [63] Tommy Sheridan has joined Alex Salmond's Alba party". www.scotsman.com. 28 March 2021 . Retrieved 29 March 2021.Matthews, James (28 March 2021). "Second MP defects from SNP to join Alex Salmond's new Alba independence party". Sky News . Retrieved 28 March 2021. In October 2023, Chris Cullen, a councillor in South Ayrshire Council defected from the SNP to Alba. [83] Electoral performance [ edit ] Scottish Parliament [ edit ] Election free ( not imprisoned; unconstrained; without obligations; (of software) with very few restrictions on distribution or improvement ) Delaney, James (26 August 2023). "Alba not to contest by-election after SNP 'rebuffed' independence pact". STV News. Marlborough, Conor (13 April 2021). "Former SNP councillor quits Alba Party amid 'hideous' claims against LGBT groups". The Scotsman.