Does the death of Alex Salmond mean the end of the Alba Party

[IwantToRetire]

https://news.sky.com/story/former-first-minister-of-scotland-alex-salmond-dies-13232584

The Rights of Women

The ALBA Party has always stood up for women and girls across Scotland. We understand that tens of thousands of women have felt unable to voice their concerns without fear of being abused and silenced, we hope to provide them with a voice.

In our short existence, we have already held numerous Women’s Only Conferences that provide a safe space for our female members to discuss issues that are pertinent to them.

We will remain steadfast in our belief that women have the right to organise themselves according to their sex class, and that these protections would be enshrined in an Independent Scotland’s Constitution.

https://www.albaparty.org/the_rights_of_women

Back to the topic of the thread!

https://www.thenational.scot/news/national/24649567.alba-party-will-continue-alex-salmonds-legacy-says-acting-leader/

Sort of telling that the Alba web site hasn't even been updated.

Does rather give the impression that it isn't really a function group, let alone a political party.

So quite likely what might have been a postive platform for women's sex based rights in Scotland will just fade away.

I was talking about the brave women who came forward and went to court in attempt to prosecute Salmond for sexual assault.

I'm C&Ping an email sent by Alba's Acting Leader (previously Depute Leader) Kenny MacAskill a few hours ago to their mailing list, in case it's helpful for anyone curious. My sense (from a distance - I'm not a member, and not in Scotland at the moment) is that many, many people in Scotland are shocked and stunned by this news. I have no trouble believing that Kenny's words are sincere.

RE other parties that GC women in Scotland can count on to give them a voice - the Independence For Scotland Party (ISP) is still active, though I'd say less high profile than Alba have been, and openly committed to women's rights. In Scotland, despite the hybrid PR voting system, small/new parties (and really any parties outside of the big 5 of Con, Lab, Lib, Scot Greens, and SNP) have had very limited success getting elected representation above the local level, but it's only been a few years for these two.

Also, there may be another thread about this, but Alba MSP Ash Regan is currently in the news promoting a proposed Members' Bill (AKA "the Unbuyable Bill") following the Nordic Model, "to create an offence of paying for sexual services, to repeal the offence of soliciting or importuning by prostitutes, to repeal previous convictions for soliciting or importuning by prostitutes and to support those in or exiting prostitution", which now has cross-party support from the SNP, Lab, and Cons. It's of course getting the Sex Work Is Work You Bigots! treatment in the media and on SM, but I think Ash has done a good job of highlighting the impact to women and girls of living in a society where sexual access to a woman "can be ordered like a pizza".

*

Dear friends,

By now you will have heard the tragic news of the passing of our Party Leader and Scotland’s former First Minister Alex Salmond. Alex passed away at lunch time on Saturday whilst he was in North Macedonia at a Conference in which he was promoting the case for Scottish independence.

The news has come as a shock to us all and in the coming days our thoughts are focused only on Moira, supporting his family in any way that we can and returning Alex home to Scotland. It will take us all time to process his sudden loss and it is right that we do so.

He was the outstanding Scottish politician not just of his generation but for generations far before. Recognised at home and respected abroad. He was not just a master political tactician but strategist. Yet also a politician who was a superb debater and orator. But one who equally possessed extraordinary charm and a common touch which endeared him to so many in Scotland.

His record speaks for itself in moulding the modern SNP, forming the first independence administration and delivering both an unprecedented Holyrood majority and a Referendum on independence. His legacy lives on and has benefitted Scotland immensely with infrastructure and other social and economic gains testifying to that.

A family has lost a husband, a brother and a much loved uncle. I have lost one of my oldest and dearest friends. The Party grieves the loss of their founder and Leader. Across Scotland people are mourning the loss of their former First Minister. But the dream he cherished so closely and came so close to delivering will never die. Alba will be rallying once family and the party have had time to grieve and pay respects.

There will be work to do to preserve the legacy of Alex Salmond and deliver his dream. Those wishing to help us ensure our country becomes not a county but a Nation once again are welcome to join us in this task: www.AlbaParty.Org/Join

Yours for Scotland,
Kenny MacAskill
Acting Leader
https://www.albaparty.org/

Thanks, Sage.

I hope that the court case continues- I see David Davies vowed to keep going, which is good to hear.

Well I don't like Cherry or Salmond and Cherry's defence of a creepy, handsy, sex pest who abused his position of power makes her feminist stance very questionable.

As for Salmond himself, no he is not a "great loss to the political scene, whether you were a fan of him or not"

What exactly did he achieve for the benefit of Scotland? Nothing. He stirred up division and bitterness He achieved much for himself and the SNP. That should not be confused with achieving anything for Scotland.

His behaviour the day after he lost the referendum was apalling- sneaking off to sulk and hide leaving Sturgeon to deal with the fall out. She's vile too but I actually felt sorry for her that morning.

Oh and don't forget his taking the Kremlin's shilling.

Yes, indeed.

https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/alex-salmonds-close-friend-says-33884591

'Mr Davis is among a group of friends determined to continue Mr Salmond's fight to hold those he accused of "malfeasance" to account. He wants to see the separation of the powers of state and judiciary in Scotland and give the powers of privilege to Holyrood to protect MSPs from prosecution for statements made at parliament.
Mr Davis recently used privilege to read out messages in the Commons he claimed proved "perjury up to criminal conspiracy" in relation to the claims against Mr Salmond. The decision on whether to continue the court case will lie with Mr Salmond's family. But ex-SNP MP Joanna Cherry vowed to continue the fight to clear his name.
Speaking on BBC Scotland on Sunday, she said: "I am dismayed as a lawyer by the lack of respect there has been for the jury verdict in Alex's criminal charges. It concerns me that people don't take seriously enough the gravity of the fact that a government investigation against a former First Minister was found to be tainted by an apparent bias.'

Kenny McAskill is the acting leader of Alba now. Their conference is next month.

It will continue as there's a need for an independence party that isn't SNP or the greens. The unionists have 3/4 parties no reason why the nationalists should have as many.

Is the judiciary not independent in Scotland?

To be clear, I think there probably was a stitch up. Husband and I, both solicitors agree there should be a separation of powers.

But that doesn't stop me thinking "Sleepy Cuddles" behaviour towards women was very questionable.

The judges and sheriffs are appointed by the First Minister following recommendations from the judicial appointments board, but they're not political appointments.

The issue is with the Lord Advocate who is the principal legal adviser for the Scottish Government and the Crown in civil and criminal matters.

Ah, ok, I have now read up a bit on this and it is very interesting, I can see why it is a problem,

Thanks, it is something I had no knowledge of at all.

https://sourcenews.scot/robin-mcalpine-the-foundations-of-scotlands-democracy-have-crumbled-and-you-should-worry/

Robin McAlpine is very good on this subject.

'the Scottish Government conceded in the Court of Session today that it breached its own guidelines by appointing an investigating officer who had prior involvement with the complainers, the judge, Lord Pentland, approved a settlement in which the Government accepted that its actions had been "unlawful in respect that they were procedurally unfair", and "tainted with apparent bias", and the decision should be set aside.'.

https://www.lawscot.org.uk/news-and-events/legal-news/scottish-government-concedes-error-in-salmond-investigation/

It's all very concerning. More McAlpine:

https://wingsoverscotland.com/the-integrity-of-a-nation/

https://www.thenational.scot/news/24650513.alex-salmonds-court-case-scottish-government-continue/

'Police Scotland has also confirmed to The Herald that a criminal investigation into evidence given by a senior Scottish Government civil servant to a Holyrood inquiry about how complaints against Salmond were handled remains ongoing.
A spokesperson for Police Scotland said: “We are investigating a complaint in relation to evidence provided to a Scottish Parliament committee.

“These enquiries are ongoing and we are unable to comment further.”'

https://www.thetimes.com/uk/scotland/article/snp-criticised-over-30000-freedom-of-information-battle-h0g2g3298

'Scotland’s information commissioner has criticised the SNP government for its three-year legal battle against releasing documents relating to Nicola Sturgeon’s conduct during the Alex Salmond inquiry.'

https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/24574072.snp-ordered-release-secret-legal-advice-sturgeon-probe/

'SNP ministers have been ordered by the information watchdog to release legal advice relating to a court case brought in the wake of an investigation into whether former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon broke the ministerial code.'

A cynic might wonder what on earth they are covering up.

I'll eat my hat if they ever win a seat. They couldn't break through with Big Eck at the helm, most people wouldn't know Kenny McCaskill if they saw him in the street. There's just not enough energy there, which is a shame.

I'm happy for Alba to exist if it split the separatist vote but even with Salmond it failed to do that.

Cherry for all her supposed loyalty to Salmond never jumped ship to Alba, so I suppose she had no faith on it.

Why, then, was he acquitted of all charges if these were indeed 'brave women' with solid evidence?

Does it strike you as not the smallest bit odd that the complainants were all part of Sturgeon's inner circle, yet she denied – under oath – knowing any of them? Why would she do that?

I saw a headline in the Scottish section of the Times that Salmond's death has caused lots of people to join Alba.

Aforementioned Times article here:
https://www.thetimes.com/article/e3bde80a-854f-47e8-a1a6-706765509c4c?shareToken=891758e6a10477de41996209db915a74

Salmond admitted the "sleepy cuddles" stuff. He admitted to stroking a female civil servant’s face while she slept and tugging her hair on several occasions. He admitted smacking another civil servant on her bottom.

He was found not guilty of rape but even his own Counsel agreed his behaviour was unacceptable. Yet here are "feminists" defending a sleazy, handsy pest abusing his power.

Blind belief in all things women might say, without scrutiny or critical thought, is the very antithesis of feminism.

AS admitting inappropriate behaviour and being stitched up and possibly sent to prison for life, for nonexistent CRIMINALITY – these two things are not mutually exclusive.

"He was acquitted of all charges, but he's guilty anyway because not all sexual assault victims are believed." That's an insane position.

Not sure what point you're trying to make but trying to address your points. No one needs to "blindly believe" anything or anyone to come to the conclusion he is sleazy, handsy, pest who abused his power. His Counsel said it, he admitted it.

So far as your second point, well yes, the 2 things aren't mutually exclusive. I said upthread I thought it was a stitch up. I do however think it's bizarre that proclaimed feminists like Cherry apparently don't have a problem with his being a sleazy, power abusing pest.

As for your third paragraph, I didn't say that but it's a position that's hardly uncommon here.