Alex Salmond has warned that his former social gathering faces “electoral catastrophe” if it doesn’t again Alba’s calls to place up a single independence candidate in a forthcoming by-election.
The previous Scottish first minister and SNP social gathering chief has written an open letter to First Minister Humza Yousaf to reiterate that without his proposals the pro-independence motion is in “hazard of handing the seat to Labour on a platter”.
Whereas date for the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election has but to be finalised, events have began to place ahead their candidates, with the race for the Westminster seat more likely to be between the SNP’s Katy Loudon and Labour’s Michael Shanks.
Mr Salmond mentioned the by-election may see 5 pro-independence candidates on the poll paper, together with from the SNP, Greens and Alba – moderately than one to tackle Labour.
Mr Salmond as an alternative instructed Mr Yousaf ought to put ahead a united strategy on the SNP convention in October by making the case for one single independence candidate at every constituency on the subsequent normal election, anticipated to happen subsequent yr.
In his open letter, Mr Salmond mentioned he first wrote to the First Minister on Might 13 earlier than making contact privately by way of his employees to request a gathering.
He has now despatched an extra open letter following Mr Yousaf’s claims he had not heard from his former social gathering chief about electoral proposals throughout an Edinburgh Pageant Fringe look.
Mr Salmond wrote: “That is unfaithful. To contemplate the chance that you’re at nighttime about these approaches, I’ve now launched the connected open letter asking you to contemplate the Scotland United for Independence proposal for the following normal election on the SNP convention in October.
The hazard is handing the seat to Labour on a platter
Alex Salmond, Alba Occasion
“The method of changing Labour because the dominant social gathering in Scottish politics began nicely earlier than you even joined the SNP.
“It will appear greater than a setback to the independence trigger to allow them to regain a foothold by fielding a number of pro-independence candidates within the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election.”
He known as on the First Minister to reply by Friday August 25 in time for the Alba nationwide council’s assembly the next day the place the social gathering will determine whether or not it would contest the seat.
Following the letter, Mr Salmond mentioned: “Humza Yousaf and the SNP are on a slippery slope to electoral catastrophe.
“Except he takes averting motion there are more likely to be at least 5 pro-independence candidates in Rutherglen.
“The hazard is handing the seat to Labour on a platter. There isn’t a surer means of inviting a significant reverse on this first vital check of Humza Yousaf’s management.”
