Former SNP MP Angus MacNeil Affiliates with Alba Party

Angus MacNeil, previously a Member of Parliament for the Scottish National Party (SNP), has become a member of the Alba Party. From 2005 to 2023, he served as the SNP’s representative for the Na h-Eileanan an Iar (Western Isles) constituency in the Westminster Parliament, a tenure spanning 19 years. In 2023, he faced suspension and subsequent expulsion from the party after a disagreement with Brendan O’Hara, who was then the chief whip. Following his expulsion, MacNeil served as an independent Member of Parliament until he was defeated by Torquil Crichton of the Labour Party in the general election held in July. Upon declaring his affiliation with Alba, MacNeil voiced criticism of the SNP, stating that the party had not formulated a clear strategy to achieve Scottish independence. He stated, “It is six years since the SNP hierarchy proclaimed it didn’t need a Plan B and then when the Plan A ran out they hadn’t a clue what to do.” MacNeil indicated that he is contemplating standing in the Holyrood elections scheduled for 2026. He commented, “I might put myself forward if there were indications that people wanted me to do that. If it helps to kick start independence I would do.” The Alba Party was established by former First Minister Alex Salmond in February 2021, and he served as its leader until his passing in October. Subsequent to his removal from the SNP, MacNeil held a position as an independent MP within the “Scotland United2 group, alongside Kenny MacAskill and Neale Hanvey, who were then Alba MPs. Chris McEleny, Alba’s general secretary, stated that MacNeil had engaged in discussions with Salmond regarding joining the party prior to Salmond’s death. McEleny asserted, “Angus Brendan MacNeil will not be the last high-profile new member of Alba Party in the coming weeks and months.” He added, “Angus is one of the most experienced parliamentarians in Scotland. His experience as the former chair of the Energy Select Committee will be warmly welcomed in Alba Party as we continue to promote policies that highlight the absurdity of fuel poor Scots living in an energy rich Scotland.” At the time of his initial election to Westminster, MacNeil was 34 years old. Known as a close associate of Alex Salmond, he openly criticized Tony Blair’s choice to invade Iraq, and his formal complaint to the Metropolitan Police initiated the “cash for honours” inquiry in 2006. However, he frequently generated controversy within his own party. For instance, in 2018, he disregarded the counsel of his Westminster leader, Ian Blackford, by persisting in his appearances on Salmond’s talk show, broadcast on RT, the Russian state-owned television channel. He was convicted of careless driving after an accident on Barra in October 2020, which resulted in a 17-year-old motorcyclist sustaining a broken leg. Consequently, MacNeil received a three-month driving disqualification and a fine of £1,500.