COUNCILLOR Leaves SNP To Join Salmond’s New Alba Party

INVERCLYDE councillor Chris McEleny has left the SNP and joined a new party started by former First Minister Alex Salmond.

The pro-independence Alba Party will be fielding candidates on regional lists in next month’s Scottish Parliament elections.

Councillor McEleny, who was leader of the SNP group on Inverclyde Council between 2013 an 2020, announced his decision on social media.

He said: “I am proud to stand beside my great friend, and mentor Alex Salmond as I join the Alba Party to help deliver a #Supermajority for independence.

“I’ll be voting SNP in my constituency, as I urge you to, but by voting Alba on the list we can secure that #Supermajority by ensuring that every independence vote on the list contributes to electing pro-independence Members of Parliament.”

Councillor McEleny, whose father Jim is an Inverclyde SNP councillor, lost out to sitting MSP Stuart McMillan in an attempt to become the SNP’s constituency candidate for the election.