Independent Councillor Group Back ALBA Party for Next Scottish Election

Seven independent councillors from across Scotland have announced that they will be backing Alba on the regional list at the next Scottish Parliament election.

The councillors are Cllr Andy Doig and Cllr Will Mylet of Renfrewshire Council, Cllr Brian McCabe and Cllr Robert Spears of Falkirk Council, and three councillors from the Western Isles: Cllr John Norman MacLeod, Cllr Mustapha Hocine, and Cllr Iain MacNeil.

Independent councillor Andy Doig, of Renfrewshire Council, believes that independence supporters must back Alba with their second vote to maximise the number of pro-independence MSPs in the Scottish Parliament.

Cllr Doig was first elected as an independent councillor for Johnstone North, Kilbarchan, Howwood, and Lochwinnoch in 2017.

Commenting Cllr Andy Doig said:

“I’ve been an independence supporter all my adult life. At the next Scottish elections, it is imperative that we maximise the independence vote.

“That is why I, along with others, am proud to announce that I will be backing ALBA on the Regional List. 

“The winds of change are blowing across these islands, no better demonstrated by the Plaid Cymru result last week. 

“The independence movement needs a strong ALBA contingent in the Scottish Parliament to be the cutting edge of independence.”

Cllr Bob Spears of Falkirk Council, is one of Scotland’s longest serving councillors having been elected 38 years ago. He represents Grangemouth and believes that Kenny MacAskill displayed leadership like no other politician in his campaign to save Scotland’s only refinery.

Commenting Cllr Bob Spears said:

“Kenny MacAskill came to my town during the last general election and didn’t mince his words. He told us what would happen if the refinery was to close and sadly much of that has now come to pass. 

“We’re going through a desperate time just now, forsale notices are going up by the week and when the redundancy money runs out we’ll know what deprivation is.

“Since then, he’s continued to fight for my town. We need a strong voice in our parliament that will stand up for Scottish interests and that is exactly what Kenny MacAskill will do.”

Commenting on the announcement, Alba Party Leader Kenny MacAskill said:

“The SNP have made a grave error in proclaiming that only votes for the SNP count towards independence. It is a kick in the teeth to those in other pro-independence parties and indeed those who are in none.

“The independence movement is far greater than the SNP, which is something I believe they need to be reminded of. There are many in the wider movement who do not belong to any political party, as demonstrated by these seven councillors.

“We know that a vote for Alba on the regional list next May can guarantee a pro-independence majority in the Scottish Parliament and will see fewer unionist MSPs returned to Holyrood.

“I welcome the support of these councillors ahead of next year’s election, and I call on others out there to come forward and back our common-sense ‘Max the Yes’ call.”