lex Salmond has warned that his former social gathering faces “electoral disaster” if it doesn't again Alba’s calls to place up a single independence candidate in a forthcoming by-election.

The former Scottish first minister and SNP social gathering chief has written an open letter to First Minister Humza Yousaf to reiterate that with out his proposals the pro-independence motion is in “danger of handing the seat to Labour on a platter”.

While date for the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election has but to be finalised, events have began to place ahead their candidates, with the race for the Westminster seat more likely to be between the SNP’s Katy Loudon and Labour’s Michael Shanks.

Mr Salmond mentioned the by-election may see 5 pro-independence candidates on the poll paper, together with from the SNP, Greens and Alba – quite than one to tackle Labour.

Mr Salmond as a substitute advised Mr Yousaf ought to put ahead a united method on the SNP convention in October by making the case for one single independence candidate at every constituency on the subsequent normal election, anticipated to happen subsequent yr.

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In his open letter, Mr Salmond mentioned he first wrote to the First Minister on May 13 earlier than making contact privately by his employees to request a gathering.

He has now despatched an extra open letter following Mr Yousaf’s claims he had not heard from his former social gathering chief about electoral proposals throughout an Edinburgh Festival Fringe look.

Mr Salmond wrote: “This is untrue. To consider the possibility that you are in the dark about these approaches, I have now released the attached open letter asking you to consider the Scotland United for Independence proposal for the next general election at the SNP conference in October.

The danger is handing the seat to Labour on a platter

“The process of replacing Labour as the dominant party in Scottish politics started well before you even joined the SNP.

“It would seem more than a setback to the independence cause to let them regain a foothold by fielding multiple pro-independence candidates in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election.”

He referred to as on the First Minister to reply by Friday August 25 in time for the Alba nationwide council’s assembly the next day the place the social gathering will determine whether or not it is going to contest the seat.

Following the letter, Mr Salmond mentioned: “Humza Yousaf and the SNP are on a slippery slope to electoral disaster.

“Unless he takes averting action there are likely to be no less than five pro-independence candidates in Rutherglen.

“The danger is handing the seat to Labour on a platter. There is no surer way of inviting a major reverse in this first significant test of Humza Yousaf’s leadership.”