Alba Stereo System

[buttgammon]

For what it's worth, Mrs G (who speaks and understands a good bit of Scottish Gaelic) pointed out that Salmond hasn't been pronouncing the name correctly, at least in the way Gaelic speakers would.

[pigamus]

He pronounces it 'Elizabeth Duke'

[imitationleather]

Alex Salmond looks like an extremely unhealthy man.

[the hum]

I'm not getting involved in the pronunciation debate though as I have no idea

It's "Alaba". Here's some assistance from Runrig https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FIjBcSQkMYE&ab_channel=Malkie

(somewhat ironically you can there see a young Pete Wishart on the keys)

[Jumblegraws]

Alex Salmond looks like an extremely unhealthy man.

There's something really odd about his head and face, and I don't just because he's ever so slightly out of shape. He always reminds me of one of the background extras in a Muppets film, I think it's his eyebrows, they look animatronic.

[Blinder Data]

It's weird you would assume people making a basic connection between the two for the clear purpose of a quick joke don't understand what the party name refers to.

Fair enough - there's just a whiff of "alba is a funny word hur hur" about it, mostly from London blue tick twats, that I find distasteful

[Jittlebags]

[the hum]

Angus MacNeil looking like the next to join. Always a bit zany, but fallen a long way from his early years in Westminster as the guy who uncovered the expenses scandal https://twitter.com/DailyGael/status/1375953949593853952?s=20 (also - allegedly - a bit of a sleazeball)

The bit in Gaelic roughly translates as "The Gaelic speaking MP for the Western Isles. Who would believe it with views like this".

[kekse]

neale hanvey is the latest mp to defect

previously suspended by the snp for sharing a soros meme before being readmitted. doesn't seem like great "optics" for either party right now

[idunnosomename]

just to reiterate my opinion that salmond is a fucking gigantic cunt and he should literally be tossed off a cliff into a pile of cum

[canadagoose]

I've got a terrible feeling that my Dad might be voting for this shower of wankers. I wish I could dissuade him.

[buttgammon]

Angus MacNeil looking like the next to join. Always a bit zany, but fallen a long way from his early years in Westminster as the guy who uncovered the expenses scandal https://twitter.com/DailyGael/status/1375953949593853952?s=20 (also - allegedly - a bit of a sleazeball)

The bit in Gaelic roughly translates as "The Gaelic speaking MP for the Western Isles. Who would believe it with views like this".

I can't imagine that going down well in that constituency - what a weirdo.

[greencalx]

I've got a terrible feeling that my Dad might be voting for this shower of wankers. I wish I could dissuade him.

What's the attraction? Is it that the SNP have gone soft on independence? I think that's a bit of a stretch - Sturgeon never misses an opportunity to make the case - but it's also true that our local candidates campaign leaflet mentions independence only in the context of reinstating a closer relationship with Europe.

[Blinder Data]

Alba now have more MPs in Scotland than Labour!

Key questions are whether the defectors will continue as MPs or whether they'll resign - and would Alba stand in the by-election?

I don't quite understand the criticism from some in SNP that Alba are gaming the electoral system. The system is what it is, it's up to all parties to maximise their vote.

[greencalx]

Quite.

One possible attraction of defecting to Alba is that they don't seem to be requiring MPs to resign their Westminster seat before standing for election at Holyrood, as the SNP are.

[the hum]

I can't imagine that going down well in that constituency - what a weirdo.

I have a few friends who live out in the Uists and Lewis and can guarantee it will go down well with pretty much no one. I think they were already growing a bit weary of him even before this.

[Blinder Data]

Sorry, another question: what's to stop SNP MSPs elected on 6 May defecting to Alba afterwards?

I like having two outwardly pro-indy parties - now the Catalonia comparisons hold water! You could mention the Greens but they don't wear it on their sleeves in the same way.

The Greens and SNP are fighting for the same lefty Yes voters. There's an older chunk of the electorate who would vote SNP but never Green - the Tartan Tories, essentially. I don't know if it's substantial enough to get Salmond and co elected though.

I'm really hoping we get some leadership debates. The other parties aren't going to get a look in!

[Jumblegraws]

Whinge Over Scotland said that "women's rights" would be a prominent feature of this Salmond-led party's manifesto, making it more obvious than ever they will be courting the tartan terf vote.

[the hum]

Sorry, another question: what's to stop SNP MSPs elected on 6 May defecting to Alba afterwards?

Nothing in theory I guess, although given candidate vetting etc you'd presume they're by and large loyal to the current leadership. That said there are certain veteran MSPs I do wonder about; Fergus Ewing, Richard Lochhead spring to mind.

[chveik]

i think it shouldn't be allowed for politicians to switch parties so easily after they've been elected

[canadagoose]

What's the attraction? Is it that the SNP have gone soft on independence? I think that's a bit of a stretch - Sturgeon never misses an opportunity to make the case - but it's also true that our local candidates campaign leaflet mentions independence only in the context of reinstating a closer relationship with Europe.

I'm not too sure; he just seems to hold a candle for Salmond, and would probably jump at the chance of a "supermajority". I'll try to convince him not to, but it probably won't work.

I've got a horrible feeling they might pip the Greens to the post as the 4th largest party. Maybe even 3rd, in front of Labour. Ugh.

[Blinder Data]

I've got a horrible feeling they might pip the Greens to the post as the 4th largest party. Maybe even 3rd, in front of Labour. Ugh.

Wha? No way. Salmond will be lucky if he has any mates with him after the final count.

Also, I'm beginning to think Scottish Labour are gonna finish second. Douglas Ross is no Ruth Davidson.

[the hum]

Wha? No way. Salmond will be lucky if he has any mates with him after the final count.

Also, I'm beginning to think Scottish Labour are gonna finish second. Douglas Ross is no Ruth Davidson.

I think there's a reasonable chance of that happening. Something that's being forgotten amongst the Sturgeon Salmond melodrama is that there's a real war of attrition going on between the unionist parties. The LibDems are up a few percent on last time; unlikely to win them any more seats, but may harm the Tory vote enough in rural areas for the SNP to nick a couple of constituency seats. Also (famous last words possibly) but Angus Robertson looks a shoo-in to win Edinburgh Central now Davidson's off (although he stood a good chance of winning it even if she hadn't).

[canadagoose]

Wha? No way. Salmond will be lucky if he has any mates with him after the final count.

Also, I'm beginning to think Scottish Labour are gonna finish second. Douglas Ross is no Ruth Davidson.

DRoss is hopeless, and seems to keep getting hoodwinked at every opportunity. Sarwar, though? I'm not sure. If Labour are successful they'll have to put forward a strong campaign to do so.

I see the Walloper Party has got some more defectors. All fuds, the lot of them. Remains to be seen whether MacNeil and Cherry will jump over.

[Fambo Number Mive]

First celebrity to stand for the Alba Party

Former boxing champion Alex Arthur has announced he is to stand as an MSP for the forthcoming Scottish election in Alex Salmond's newly formed Alba Party

https://prod.news.stv.tv/politics/former-boxing-champion-to-stand-as-candidate-for-alba-party?top

[kekse]

he had to rush out an apology for racist and anti-vax tweets within hours lol

[Pinball]

Help me understand:

Stronger together - EU.
Stronger not together - UK.

The nationalists' policy has the consistency of bullshit.

[jamiefairlie]

Help me understand:

Stronger together - EU.
Stronger not together - UK.

The nationalists' policy has the consistency of bullshit.

Did the UK have to ask the EU's permission to have a referendum to leave?

[Shoulders?-Stomach!]

Did the UK have to ask the EU's permission to have a referendum to leave?

Almost like the relationship between Scotland and the UK and the UK with the EU is significantly fucking different.

[Blinder Data]

Did anyone watch the debate? Ross was awful, Sturgeon looked knackered and Sarwar came off best. Rennie was all right but what is point Lib Dems? I'd never heard of Lorna Slater before but she seemed to do ok for the Greens. There was an elephant in the room by the name of Alex though...