Kenny MacAskill quits SNP to run for Alba party at Holyrood election
The former Justice Secretary plans to continue as MP for East Lothian, despite calls to resign and trigger a by-election
Former Scottish Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill has become the first big name to defect from the SNP to the newly formed Alba party.
Alex Salmond launched his new project on Friday, with the goal of creating a pro-independence “supermajority” in May’s Holyrood elections.
Mr MacAskill told MFR News: “This is a critical election for Scotland. Our economy’s being damaged by Brexit, our health service is threatened by trade deals, Boris Johnson is enforcing austerity and threatening the powers of our parliament.
"We’ve got to become an independent nation. We need a super-majority to make sure at the Holyrood election it’s Scottish democracy that prevails.”
He also said he plans to continue as an MP: “It was done by Donald Dewar, it was done by Alex Salmond, and even by John Swinney, the deputy First Minister, in past years.
“It’s also being sought by the leader of the Scottish Tories Douglas Ross at present, so the dual mandate is there.”
The SNP’s Westminster leader has described the departure of East Lothian MP Kenny MacAskill as “somewhat of a relief” and urged him to resign and trigger a by-election.
In a statement Ian Blackford said: “After yesterday's events this is the second least surprising news in Scottish politics.
“He has been an increasing embarrassment to many in the SNP and his departure is somewhat of a relief.
“That he is joining a party with serious questions to answer about its leader's suitability for public office is no surprise.”
“He should now resign his seat in the House of Commons to let a by-election take place immediately so the people of East Lothian can elect a new MP who will focus on their interests, rather than self-interest.”
Lib Dem MP Alistair Carmichael added: “Kenny Macaskill wants to go from being the SNP MP for East Lothian, to the Alba party MSP for Lothians. I will be interested to see how he pursues this role from his home in Banffshire.”
Ian Murray, the shadow secretary of state for Scotland, said: “The already thin veneer that separated Alex Salmond's party from the SNP has totally cracked in just 24 hours.”
Before the news of Mr MacAskill’s defection broke SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon told MFR News she wasn’t too concerned if people wanted to leave her party to join Alba: “If people want to