The Independent

Alba will urge SNP to 'get a move on' with independence, says Alex Salmond

The Independent logo The Independent 21/04/2021 13:35:41 Ashley Cowburn
a man wearing a suit and tie © Provided by The Independent

Alex Salmond has vowed to immediately lay a motion instructing the Scottish government to begin independence negotiations if his newly formed party returns MSPs at next month's Holyrood election.

Launching the 57-page Alba Party manifesto - "Shake Things Up" - the former first minister and SNP leader said the Scottish parliament should pass a Referendum Bill if Boris Johnson's government denies a request to hold a vote.

Speaking at the launch of the manifesto, which was interrupted by technical difficulties, Mr Salmond said the party was established to "bring urgency into the timetable for delivering independence for Scotland" and ensure there "is no more backsliding on timetables".

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Alba will inject urgency over the issue by "pressuring the pro-independence Scottish government to get a move on and hold it to account if doesn't," he added.

Insisting Alba was not a "single-issue party", the manifesto also sets out plans to introduce a £500 annual payment to every low income household in Scotland to tackle deprivation and double Education Maintenance Allowance for students.

It comes as voters prepare to head to the polls on 6 May to elect a new Scottish Parliament, with Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP leader, already vowing to fight for an independence referendum if her party emerges with a majority of seats.

The Alba manifesto, which Mr Salmond described as the only one taking independence "seriously", states: "Immediately the new Scottish government is formed it should begin to negotiate with Westminster on both the delivery of a referendum and the terms of independence," the Alba Party document stated.

"Alba will lay a motion in Parliament to deliver this instruction. Our belief is that challenged not by a single political party but a supermajority of independent supporting MSPs, will fundamentally alter the power balance between Scotland and Westminster".

The manifesto says that the negotiating position should include "but not be restricted" to requesting a formal Section 30 Order from Mr Johnson's government to hold a referendum - a similar stance to Ms Sturgeon's SNP.

If the prime minister rejects the order, the document says the Scottish government must then "pass a Referendum Bill with urgency and be ready to fight it through the courts if need be", adding: "A range of other tactics should be employed including diplomatic pressure and international legal action, and the mobilisation of the Scottish people through popular and peaceful demonstration and direct action".

Mr Salmond's newly formed party also demanded the Scottish government prepares independence framework ahead of a referendum, including beginning work for a Scottish Central Bank and a new currency for Scotland.

"This will involve running a dual currency over a period, with sterling as an internationally tradeable currency still an accepted denomination for all private sector assets and liabilities," the manifesto added.

mercredi 21 avril 2021 16:35:41 Categories: The Independent

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