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Politics: ex-Aberdeenshire provosts backs ALBA


By David Porter

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Former Provost of Aberdeenshire Council Hamish Vernal is the latest local figure to declared backing for recently formed ALBA in the coming elections.

Former provost and councillor Hamish Vernal has leant his support to Aberdeenshire's new Alba Party group
Former provost and councillor Hamish Vernal has leant his support to Aberdeenshire's new Alba Party group

In a statement Hamish Vernal said: “With Alex Salmond heading up the ALBA Candidates for the north-east I am delighted to be giving my support to ALBA on the second vote for the regional list.

I have been an SNP Member since I was 16 years old so it is a considerable wrench to leave the party.

"However the opportunity of building a #supermajority for independence is too good to miss.

“My message to SNP voters is -give your list vote to ALBA and make both votes count for Yes to Independence.

"My message to the SNP leadership is lay off the negative personal attacks on ALBA.

"It will do you no good in the North East of Scotland.

“We saw in 2016 that SNP votes were totally wasted in returning zero MSPs on the list locally allowing Tories to sneak in.

"There were over 137,000 SNP votes on the regional list which returned not a single MSP.

"If these votes go to ALBA this time round we will return all four excellent ALBA candidates.

"This time we can make a real difference in the north east and elect ALBA MSPs who will not only fight for the north east but fight for Independence in the next Parliament”.

Welcoming Hamish Vernal’s support. ALBA Party Leader Alex Salmond said: “Hamish has been a huge champion for the north-east so to have his support for ALBA is a tremendous boost for our campaign and one that will resonate with people across the north-east of Scotland”

Aberdeenshire Council has now become the first in Scotland to form its own ALBA party group with the recent signing up of councillors Leigh Wilson, Brian Topping and Alastair Bews.


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