Councillor decides to join Alba Party
Switch for politician who champions women’s rights
A former SNP councillor, who resigned from the party after making accusations about bullying, has joined Alex Salmond’s new Alba Party.
Bannockburn ward councillor Maureen Bennison, who now sits as an independent, left the SNP last August claiming there had been bullying, sexism and party in-fighting.
She said “toxic abuse and threats” had been dished out by elements within the party on women speaking out over the Scottish Government’s proposed changes to gender recognition.
She had further alleged the situation had “come to the fore” since the installation of current Stirling MP Alyn Smith as the party’s Westminster candidate, adding: “I cannot work with a man who in my opinion is a misogynist and I refuse to be pushed around or pressured by either him or his staff.”
Mr Smith later issued a statement swiping back, saying: “Clearing out dead wood is a sensitive process. This bitter, hurtful and absurd allegation is entirely untrue.”
This week, Councillor Bennison, who has been one of the most prolific voices within the council on women’s issues since being elected in 2017, announced she was joining the Alba Party.
She told the Observer: “The Alba Party offers the chance to maximise pro-independence representation in the next Scottish Parliament, and a supermajority to deliver independence for
Scotland. Alba is campaigning for the regional list vote only, where the SNP has struggled to gain seats due to its dominance in the constituency ballot.
“Voting for Alba on the regional list vote can ensure a Scottish Parliament which prioritises independence and offers the people of Scotland an alternative to the Brexit nightmare and Boris Johnson’s toxic Tories.
“I’ll be making the positive case for independence as an elected member of Alba, and will look to work positively with my proindependence colleagues to advance that cause.”
Former First Minister Alex
Salmond - who was acquitted of sexual offences charges after a trial at the High Court in Edinburgh last year - has been at war with Nicola Sturgeon over her government’s unlawful sexual misconduct investigation into him.
During the Holyrood inquiry into the government’s investigation, Salmond claimed that Sturgeon’s allies plotted against him.
A press conference announcing his political comeback on Friday was marked by questions over his conduct towards women.
Speaking about his party’s motives, he said: “Alba will contest the upcoming Scottish elections as a list only party under my leadership seeking to build a #supermajority for independence in the Scottish parliament.
“Over the next six weeks we will promote new ideas about taking Scotland forward, giving primacy to economic recovery from the pandemic and the achievement of independence for our country.
“We expect to field a minimum of four candidates in each regional list and we’re hoping to elect Alba MSPs from every area of Scotland.”
Salmond will stand for election in the North East. He added: “The Alba Party is a list party. We are standing only in the list.
“We are not challenging the SNP in the constituencies.”
Over the weekend, a number of key SNP figures announced they would be leaving the party and joining Alba including MPs Kenny MacAskill and Neale Hanvey as well as Glasgow councillor Michelle Ferns.
Councillor Bennison, who in December called for local MSPs to support measures which will give sexual assault victims choice over the sex of the person examining them, was elected to the Bannockburn ward in one of the tightest races of the 2017 council elections.
She was elected at round seven, just pipping Paul Henke of the Conservatives. At the time her election prompted a large cheer from SNP supporters in the Albert Halls.
I’ll be making the positive case for independence as an elected member of Alba