Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath’s Neale Hanvey MP to stand for Alba in Mid-Scotland and Fife

The Alba Party has welcomed its second MP to its growing ranks. Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath MP Neale Hanvey joins Scotland’s former Justice Secretary Kenny MacAsKill MP in boosting the party’s representation. 

Neale Hanvey will contest the Mid-Scotland and Fife Regional List for the Alba Party.

Statement Neale Hanvey MP;

“In December 2019 the people of Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath made political history by electing me as their first independent and pro-independence MP.

In the tumult of the following year I worked with vigour and determination both in parliament and with my outstanding constituency team to deliver for the communities I represent.

I have also used my professional expertise to challenge the complete inadequacy of Westminster’s response to COVID.

Yet like so many I have been angered by our powerlessness in the face of Brexit and share the frustration of many who feel the aspirations of the independence movement are being ignored.

The Alba Party provide a tonic for our movement with an unashamedly optimistic vision for Scotland’s impending transition to an independent European nation.

The Alba party’s growing membership will shape our policy priorities in the coming week. The people of Scotland will always be my priority so it’s a very real honour to be standing for Alba and an independence supermajority.”

Editors notes

On Friday 26th March the Alba Party was launched by Alex Salmond and Alex and three other candidates were declared - Eva Comrie who transferred from No1 on the SNP list for Mid Scotland and Fife, businesswoman Cynthia Guthrie who is standing in the South of Scotland and Cllr Chris McEleny, the author of “Plan B” who is standing in the West of Scotland.
On Saturday 27th March former Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill MP announced his transfer to the Alba Party alongside Corrie Wilson, the former SNP MP

BIO: Neale Hanvey MP

Neale was born in Belfast and lived in the north of Ireland through his early years. At the age of seven his family moved to Glenrothes New Town in Scotland.

Neale attended Glenrothes High School before starting his career in nursing. Neale completed his mental health nursing qualification (RMN) in Fife. Following this he completed his general nurse training at the Western General Hospital, Edinburgh.

Moving to London in 1993, Neale worked at University College London Hospital’s (UCLH) Clinical Haematology and Bone Marrow Transplant service. During this time Neale completed a post registration diploma in Oncology and Palliative care. Following continued promotion Neale took up the post of Charge Nurse on the Teenage Cancer Trust Unit, at UCLH’s Middlesex site, before taking on the role of Senior Nurse for Oncology and Head & Neck Surgery. In 2005 Neale was appointed to the position of Divisional Nurse Director for Rare Cancer at the Royal Marden Hospital.

Neale has been a specialist guest lecturer on Adolescent Cancer and Sarcoma at various university courses including Great Ormond Street Hospital, South Bank University and Cambridge University. He has been a contributing author to academic textbooks and has presented primary research internationally. Neale obtained an MSc (distinction) at City University, London.

Following his return to Scotland Neale entered the world of politics in 2012 as Councillor for Dunfermline Central. During his time as a councillor he was the SNP Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, SNP Group Convener, and latterly SNP Group Leader. Neale led a campaign which delivered the largest SNP group ever to Fife Council.

In December 2019 Neale was elected as Member of Parliament for the Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath Parliamentary Constituency. Neale is the SNP member and spokesperson for the Westminster Health and Social Care Select Committee.

Neale lives with his husband and two children in Fife