ALBA LAUNCHES SECOND POLICY CONFERENCE

Scotland’s newest political force ALBA launches its second Policy Conference tomorrow in preparation for next week’s manifesto launch.
The Conference on Saturday 17 April will discuss papers from former SNP Deputy leader Jim Sillars, on a written Constitution for an independent Scotland, ALBA Candidate for South Scotland and former MP Corri Wilson on pension policy, ALBA Candidate for Central Scotland Dr Jim Walker on currency policy for an independent Scotland and from Party Leader and Former First Minister, Alex Salmond, on “Scotland and The World” encompassing the Party’s new European strategy.  In addition, the Conference will hear from ALBA Candidate for the Highlands and Islands Craig Berry and ALBA Candidate for Glasgow Ailsa Gray on Energy and Renewables Policy.
Among the outside experts contributing to the Conference is a paper from former Chief Medical Officer, Sir Harry Burns, on public health policy for an independent Scotland. This session will be led by ALBA Candidate for Mid Scotland and Fife Neale Hanvey MP, ALBA Candidate for Lothian Alex Arthur and ALBA Candidate for Central Scotland Margaret Lynch. 

This conference will augment the work completed on independence strategy, economic recovery and education policy along with ALBA’S already published programme on Women and Equalities. These will constitute the framework of the ALBA manifesto launch due next Wednesday.
Conference Chair and ALBA Candidate for Central Scotland Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh commented; 

“ALBA is already setting the terms of political debate in Scotland on independence, the constitution and women’s rights. This second policy conference moves into the heart of new social and economic initiatives to make Scotland a healthier more socially equal and environmentally responsible country.
“It provides the framework for Scotland’s newest and fastest-growing party to launch a manifesto which will continue to set the pace in Scottish politics.
“Scotland has a dominant political party in the SNP which faces pathetic opposition from the Unionist hotchpotch who are weak on social and economic policy and hysterical on the Constitution.”What Scotland needs, and now has in ALBA, is a party which is backing independence as an immediate priority but also can provide a badly needed but constructive social and economic critique of the government’s programme. Scotland badly needs new political ideas and ALBA will step up to the mark.
“ALBA intends to set the pace not just on the Constitution but on the social and economic priorities for Scotland in the new world which is emerging post-pandemic.”