Alex Salmond Writes To Nicola Sturgeon

Alex Salmond, ALBA Party Leader and Former First Minister, has today written to his successor SNP Leader Nicola Sturgeon following her reported suggestions that she would order SNP MSPs to not support a motion tabled by ALBA instructing the Scottish Government to begin Independence negotiations in the first week of the new Parliament. Mr Salmond has also issued a May Day rallying call to the Yes Movement.

In a statement Mr Salmond said:

"In every election campaign there is a defining moment.

"Nicola Sturgeon's indications on the BBC Today programme that she would order SNP MSPs to oppose an ALBA motion in the Scottish Parliament instructing the Scottish Government to begin Independence negotiations is exactly such a moment.

"If a group of ALBA MSPs are elected it can only be as part of an Independence Supermajority. Therefore any intention by the SNP leadership to obstruct what would be a clear mandate from the Scottish people risks offering a veto on Scotland's Future to Boris Johnson. That cannot be allowed to happen yet again.

"That is why I am writing today to Nicola, urging her to think again and to put the country before party.

"I am also issuing a May Day call to the Yes Movement urging every Independence supporter to seize the opportunity of this Election to secure the Independence Supermajority which can kickstart the process of taking Scotland to Independence.

“Nicola's interview on the Today programme is the clearest of messages to every Independence supporter in the land, that they must use their vote on Thursday to elect a strong team of ALBA MSPs. These are the circumstances in which the Scottish Government will have no choice but to implement the mandate for progress on Independence and do so as a matter of urgency.”

LETTER TO NICOLA STURGEON

1 May 2021

Nicola Sturgeon MSP

Leader of the Scottish National Party
Gordon Lamb House
3 Jackson's Entry
Edinburgh, Scotland
EH8 8PJ

Dear Nicola,

I note your interview comments of yesterday, on the BBC Today programme suggesting that SNP MSPs would be ordered not to support any motion tabled by ALBA instructing the Scottish Government to initiate Independence negotiations with Westminster, following the election of a parliament with an Independence Supermajority.

While you have chosen to pause preparations for Independence, during the COVID pandemic, the time for any further delay has surely passed.

If the outcome of the Election is an Independence majority it will be incumbent on you as the Leader of the largest party in the Scottish Parliament to work with others in the Parliament who support Independence to take matters forward with the necessary urgency that the recovery from the pandemic and the need for economic and social reconstruction requires.

Any continuing refusal by you to support a motion in the Scottish Parliament to instruct the Scottish Government to implement what would be a clear mandate from the Scottish people in the Election, risks surrendering not just a veto but the initiative on Scotland's Future to Boris Johnson. That cannot be allowed to continue.

ALBA stands ready to put country before party and to strengthen the Scottish Parliament in the face of any Westminster refusal to respect the mandate of the Scottish people. I now urge you to do the same.

Yours for Scotland,

ALEX

Leader, ALBA Party