ALBA Party leader Alex Salmond has criticised Humza Yousaf’s proposed strategy for gaining independence following the SNP convention over the weekend.
Speaking at the event in Caird Hall in Dundee on Saturday, Yousaf said that his party should present a manifesto on independence at the next election and, if the SNP win, seek negotiations with the UK Government on how to give “democratic effect” to that mandate.
However, during an appearance at an Alba Party event, former first minister Salmond is to highlight what he sees as the “three fatal flaws” in Yousaf’s plan.
He will tell an audience at the Wee Alba Book meeting in Troon: “Humza is trying to lead the SNP by being all things to all activists.
“He will end up disappointing everyone and taking independence on a road to nowhere. His approach has three fatal flaws.
“Firstly, it fails to recognise that the SNP are currently the drag on the independence movement. He should be looking at ways to gain seats by capitalising on the fact that half the country support independence, not how to minimise losses for the SNP by sheltering behind independence rhetoric with no substance.
“The way to win seats is to put country before party in a Scotland United for Independence approach.
“Secondly, going into an election with no expectation of success is hardly likely to inspire the independence vote into the polling stations. The failure to square up to Westminster when the SNP was in the ascendency is now replaced by Humza’s pre-election acceptance that victory will be met with a further Westminster veto.
"Humza has failed to spell out any strategy on how to face down yet another Westminster veto of yet another referendum mandate.”
Finally, Salmond will call on Yousaf to apologise for his predecessor’s administration.
The former first minister will say: “Thirdly, the way to restore SNP party fortunes is to settle clear tartan water between his administration and what has gone before. No one will believe he is a new leader with new ideas unless he junks a failed policy programme which is a massive albatross around the neck of the SNP.
“A recognition and an apology for losing their way and a determination to do better would lay the basis for recovery when the trials and tribulations of the party have passed.”
The Alba Party is currently calling for a Scotland United approach at the next General Election, which would see no SNP candidate fielded in the two seats currently held by Alba and Alba not standing in any safe SNP seats.
The remaining seats would be divided up between candidates from all pro-independence parties, including the Scottish Greens and Scottish Socialist Party.
However, Salmond will set out what his party intends to do if support if not forthcoming from other pro-independence parties for this plan.
“Alba is now on the cusp of becoming Scotland’s second biggest independence party by membership. We have an obligation to the wider national movement to continue to offer a Scotland United approach to the General Election which could maximise independence electoral success not just minimise SNP failure.
“However, if after this summer of deliberation there is no reciprocation from the SNP ... then Alba will present our own election strategy in line with the requirements of our Inverness spring conference.”
