Scotland's former first minister Alex Salmond on Friday announced a shock political comeback, leading the launch of a new pro-independence party to run in pivotal upcoming Scottish parliament elections.

The former Scottish National Party (SNP) leader, who was first minister from 2007 to 2014 before stepping down after losing a referendum on independence, said the Alba Party would be a "new political force" complementing the SNP.

Salmond added the surprise move, which follows months of clashes with his successor Nicola Sturgeon over her handling of sexual harassment claims against him, would aim to deliver a "supermajority" for independence in the elections.

The 66-year-old, who was cleared of all criminal wrongdoing over the allegations, is one of four candidates to have so far declared they will stand for the party.

Scotland holds elections for its devolved parliament in Edinburgh on May 6, with the SNP hoping to use the results to push for a fresh poll on independence, which UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is firmly against.

The Scottish public appear evenly split on support for the country breaking away from the United Kingdom, according to recent surveys.

"Boris Johnson has already said no to the SNP proposals. He will find it much more difficult to say no to a parliament and a country," Salmond said at a virtual party launch event.

The veteran politician was keen to stress that the new party -- which takes its name from the Scots Gaelic for Scotland -- was not a direct challenge to the SNP and would urge people to vote tactically.

- 'Real questions' -

However, in a promptly issued statement the SNP said Scotland's interests "should not be obscured by the self-interest of someone who shows no sign whatsoever of reflecting on serious concerns about his own conduct".

A party spokesman added the accusations Salmond faced "raise real questions about the appropriateness of a return to public office".

The 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) are elected on the additional member system, with each elector having two votes.

The first elects 73 constituency MSPs, including Sturgeon, by the "first past the post" system.

The second selects seven regional MSPs from each of eight parliamentary regions by party list, to ensure better representation in the legislature.

Alba only intends to stand in the regional list, with the hope of securing wider backing for independence in parliament, and will urge people to vote for the SNP in constituencies.

The SNP has already said it will ask the UK government to allow another referendum, as Scots voted overwhelmingly against Brexit in 2016.

But Johnson has repeatedly refused to grant Edinburgh the powers to do so, arguing the 2014 vote was a "once in a generation" event.

Salmond said having "supermajority" support among MSPs for independence would change "the balance fundamentally into Scotland's favour".

"If you don't... then Boris Johnson will say, this is an SNP fascination," he added.

- 'Time to move on' -

Salmond's return to frontline politics comes after weeks of tumult over his incendiary attacks on his former friend and protegee Sturgeon, as a bitter row between the independence movement's most dominant figures has played out in public.

She was cleared last week of misleading the Scottish Parliament over the sexual harassment allegations scandal, and easily survived a no-confidence vote brought by Scottish Conservatives.

Despite the rift with her and the SNP, which he has accused of a politically motivated smear campaign, Salmond said Alba's campaign would be "entirely positive".

He also defended his past behaviour. "We've seen two court cases, two judges, one jury and I'm prepared to accept all of these," Salmond said, referring to his acquittal last year by a jury.

"So it is time to move on."

However, opinion polls show his own personal standing has been severely dented.

While 58 percent of people saw Sturgeon favourably, only 14 percent felt the same towards Salmond, with nearly three-quarters registering unfavourable opinion of him, according to polling by Opinium Research and Sky News.

Scotland's former first minister Alex Salmond on Friday announced a shock political comeback, leading the launch of a new pro-independence party to run in pivotal upcoming Scottish parliament elections.

Scotland's former first minister Alex Salmond on Friday announced a shock political comeback, leading the launch of a new pro-independence party to run in pivotal upcoming Scottish parliament elections. The former Scottish National Party (SNP) leader, who was first minister from 2007 to 2014 before stepping down after losing a referendum on independence, said the Alba Party would be a "new political force" complementing the SNP. Salmond added the surprise move, which follows months of clashes with his successor Nicola Sturgeon over her handling of sexual harassment claims against him, would aim to deliver a "supermajority" for independence in the elections. The 66-year-old, who was cleared of all criminal wrongdoing over the allegations, is one of four candidates to have so far declared they will stand for the party. Scotland holds elections for its devolved parliament in Edinburgh on May 6, with the SNP hoping to use the results to push for a fresh poll on independence, which UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is firmly against. The Scottish public appear evenly split on support for the country breaking away from the United Kingdom, according to recent surveys. "Boris Johnson has already said no to the SNP proposals. He will find it much more difficult to say no to a parliament and a country," Salmond said at a virtual party launch event. The veteran politician was keen to stress that the new party -- which takes its name from the Scots Gaelic for Scotland -- was not a direct challenge to the SNP and would urge people to vote tactically. - 'Real questions' - However, in a promptly issued statement the SNP said Scotland's interests "should not be obscured by the self-interest of someone who shows no sign whatsoever of reflecting on serious concerns about his own conduct". A party spokesman added the accusations Salmond faced "raise real questions about the appropriateness of a return to public office". The 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) are elected on the additional member system, with each elector having two votes. The first elects 73 constituency MSPs, including Sturgeon, by the "first past the post" system. The second selects seven regional MSPs from each of eight parliamentary regions by party list, to ensure better representation in the legislature. Alba only intends to stand in the regional list, with the hope of securing wider backing for independence in parliament, and will urge people to vote for the SNP in constituencies. The SNP has already said it will ask the UK government to allow another referendum, as Scots voted overwhelmingly against Brexit in 2016. But Johnson has repeatedly refused to grant Edinburgh the powers to do so, arguing the 2014 vote was a "once in a generation" event. Salmond said having "supermajority" support among MSPs for independence would change "the balance fundamentally into Scotland's favour". "If you don't... then Boris Johnson will say, this is an SNP fascination," he added. - 'Time to move on' - Salmond's return to frontline politics comes after weeks of tumult over his incendiary attacks on his former friend and protegee Sturgeon, as a bitter row between the independence movement's most dominant figures has played out in public. She was cleared last week of misleading the Scottish Parliament over the sexual harassment allegations scandal, and easily survived a no-confidence vote brought by Scottish Conservatives. Despite the rift with her and the SNP, which he has accused of a politically motivated smear campaign, Salmond said Alba's campaign would be "entirely positive". He also defended his past behaviour. "We've seen two court cases, two judges, one jury and I'm prepared to accept all of these," Salmond said, referring to his acquittal last year by a jury. "So it is time to move on." However, opinion polls show his own personal standing has been severely dented. While 58 percent of people saw Sturgeon favourably, only 14 percent felt the same towards Salmond, with nearly three-quarters registering unfavourable opinion of him, according to polling by Opinium Research and Sky News.

Scotland's former leader Alex Salmond launches new party

Scotland sees its future in the European Union (EU) despite Britain&#39;s vote to leave, first minister Nicola Sturgeon said today, raising the spectre of a new Scottish independence vote and the possible dissolution of the United Kingdom. 
 
Scotland voted by a margin of 62 per cent to 38 per cent to remain in the EU in a referendum on Thursday that put it at odds with Britain as a whole, which voted 52-48 in favour of Leave. 
 
&quot;Scotland has delivered a strong, unequivocal vote to remain in the EU, and I welcome that endorsement of our European status,&quot; said Sturgeon, head of the Scottish National Party. 
 
Former first minister Alex Salmond explicitly said Scotland is now likely to push for a second independence referendum after the conditions spelled out in the SNP manifesto before re-election in May appeared to have been met. 
 
One key reason Scots rejected independence in a referendum almost three years ago was because independence meant leaving the EU too. After Thursday&#39;s vote, the question is whether some Scots who wavered but eventually voted to stick with the UK in 2014, may now prefer to join the secessionists. 
 
Splitting Scotland from the UK would end three centuries of shared history, upending another successful economic relationship shortly after the now-impending divorce between Britain and the EU. 
 
Most voters in Northern Ireland also voted to remain and Irish nationalist leaders there called for a poll on leaving the United Kingdom and uniting with Ireland. 
 
Calling a new Scottish vote would not be quick or simple and the SNP, marked by caution since Sturgeon took over as leader, would want to first ensure a new vote could be won. 
 
Where the last Scottish independence campaign fell down is considered to be the economic argument; a new Scotland was then projected to stick with its old currency, the pound, and was underpinned by an oil price then over $100 but which is now roughly a half of that level. 
 
Sturgeon would have to build a robust economic independence strategy to convince those emotionally persuaded in 2014 but not economically so. 
 
She would also have to make sure that the maelstrom around Britain&#39;s EU exit does not sweep away some of the support the SNP currently has. 
 
There are other big factors hindering a divorce. One may fear that a lightweight EU, without Britain, is a less attractive partner for Scotland, which sends two thirds of its output to the rest of the UK. 
 
Another rests on concerns about what a border between England and Scotland would do to both security and the economy. 
 
&quot;It could be that in the panic that ensues after a British exit, some people might want to stick with what we still have,&rdquo; said an SNP lawmaker speaking on condition of anonymity. 
 
Polls do not indicate that support for secession has changed much since 2014, but there are several other factors, beyond leaving the EU, which mean that could change. 
 
The biggest is Sturgeon herself, a skilled politician, highly rated by both political friends and foes. 
 
With approval ratings of 60 percent among Scots according to pollster Yougov, she is a convincing messenger for independence which she told Reuters last week she &quot;desperately&quot; wants. 
 
Yet Sturgeon needed to play it cautiously for &quot;good reason,&quot; said Anand Menon of think tank UK in a Changing Europe. 
 
&quot;Nicola Sturgeon knows that if Scotland is independent and England is out of the EU, you have an external EU border between Scotland and England. An external border means the prospects of terrorists, its means the prospect of different regulations, and trade will be obstructed,&quot; Menon said. 
 
Many voters remain sceptical but acknowledge the departure of Britain from the EU shone a new light on the issue. 
 
&quot;The SNP will have to come back with a better argument for independence in a European context to convince me,&quot; said Catherine, a 41-year-old operations manager from Aberdeen. 
 
&quot;If they come back with some real proper facts and figures I would think about it. We&rsquo;re a small country, we definitely don&rsquo;t want to be on our own.&quot; 
 
(Reuters)

It voted 62 to 38% to remain, is now likely to push for a second independence referendum which could mean the dissolution of the UK

Scotland sees its future in the European Union (EU) despite Britain's vote to leave, first minister Nicola Sturgeon said today, raising the spectre of a new Scottish independence vote and the possible dissolution of the United Kingdom. Scotland voted by a margin of 62 per cent to 38 per cent to remain in the EU in a referendum on Thursday that put it at odds with Britain as a whole, which voted 52-48 in favour of Leave. "Scotland has delivered a strong, unequivocal vote to remain in the EU, and I welcome that endorsement of our European status," said Sturgeon, head of the Scottish National Party. Former first minister Alex Salmond explicitly said Scotland is now likely to push for a second independence referendum after the conditions spelled out in the SNP manifesto before re-election in May appeared to have been met. One key reason Scots rejected independence in a referendum almost three years ago was because independence meant leaving the EU too. After Thursday's vote, the question is whether some Scots who wavered but eventually voted to stick with the UK in 2014, may now prefer to join the secessionists. Splitting Scotland from the UK would end three centuries of shared history, upending another successful economic relationship shortly after the now-impending divorce between Britain and the EU. Most voters in Northern Ireland also voted to remain and Irish nationalist leaders there called for a poll on leaving the United Kingdom and uniting with Ireland. Calling a new Scottish vote would not be quick or simple and the SNP, marked by caution since Sturgeon took over as leader, would want to first ensure a new vote could be won. Where the last Scottish independence campaign fell down is considered to be the economic argument; a new Scotland was then projected to stick with its old currency, the pound, and was underpinned by an oil price then over $100 but which is now roughly a half of that level. Sturgeon would have to build a robust economic independence strategy to convince those emotionally persuaded in 2014 but not economically so. She would also have to make sure that the maelstrom around Britain's EU exit does not sweep away some of the support the SNP currently has. There are other big factors hindering a divorce. One may fear that a lightweight EU, without Britain, is a less attractive partner for Scotland, which sends two thirds of its output to the rest of the UK. Another rests on concerns about what a border between England and Scotland would do to both security and the economy. "It could be that in the panic that ensues after a British exit, some people might want to stick with what we still have,” said an SNP lawmaker speaking on condition of anonymity. Polls do not indicate that support for secession has changed much since 2014, but there are several other factors, beyond leaving the EU, which mean that could change. The biggest is Sturgeon herself, a skilled politician, highly rated by both political friends and foes. With approval ratings of 60 percent among Scots according to pollster Yougov, she is a convincing messenger for independence which she told Reuters last week she "desperately" wants. Yet Sturgeon needed to play it cautiously for "good reason," said Anand Menon of think tank UK in a Changing Europe. "Nicola Sturgeon knows that if Scotland is independent and England is out of the EU, you have an external EU border between Scotland and England. An external border means the prospects of terrorists, its means the prospect of different regulations, and trade will be obstructed," Menon said. Many voters remain sceptical but acknowledge the departure of Britain from the EU shone a new light on the issue. "The SNP will have to come back with a better argument for independence in a European context to convince me," said Catherine, a 41-year-old operations manager from Aberdeen. "If they come back with some real proper facts and figures I would think about it. We’re a small country, we definitely don’t want to be on our own." (Reuters)

Divided Kingdom? Scotland says its future lies in the EU

alex-salmond-scotland

Alex Salmond Scotland, News on Alex Salmond Scotland, stories on Alex Salmond Scotland, articles on Alex Salmond Scotland, Alex Salmond Scotland stories at Wion, Alex Salmond Scotland news, Alex Salmond Scotland latest news

alex salmond-scotland

Scotland's former leader Alex Salmond launches new party

Divided Kingdom? Scotland says its future lies in the EU