JUDITH TELLS US ALL ABOUT THE HIGHLAND CAMPAIGN!

Ah, Inverness, Capital of the Highlands

Delighted to visit this lovely city again. It formed part of my “Estonia” speaking tour just before COVID arrived and I remember speaking at the meeting about my frustration that Independence was being sidelined and I saw none of the preparations or plans that were so vital in Establishing Estonian Independence and getting that country off to the best start. It was clear then there was no current urgency or plans to advance Independence in Scotland.

How interesting then to arrive back in the city a year or so later to discover the vast bulk of my audience that night have joined Alba and are busy campaigning for a Supermajority here in the Highlands. Was it something I said? Doubt it, as I remember most of the audience that night had already formed the same view as me long before I got there. The Branch Convener Judith Reid is now one of the Highland Alba candidates and is the key organiser across the geographically huge Highland Region.

She is so well organised that within a few minutes of me meeting her for Lunch at the excellent Chieftan Hotel, which is owned by the very pleasant Liz Lawson (no relation) she had identified where I was going next on my Highland tour and before I knew it I had been recruited as a delivery driver taking Alba election materials to the most northerly coasts of Scotland. ALBA IS IN GOOD HANDS IN THE HIGHLANDS. What follows is a report from Judith on how things are going in this most beautiful region of Scotland.

ALBA is Rising.

I am “fair chuffed” to be a candidate for the regional list/seat, in the up-and-coming Scottish Parliamentary elections, for the Alba Party in the ever scenic and spectacular Highlands and Islands.

I have been mesmerised by the efforts of our tireless volunteers and campaigners, putting up posters, arranging leafletting sessions and organising socially distanced gatherings to show support for Myself, Josh, Craig and Kirk. 

I know that they, like I, have been blown away by the enthusiasm and commitment shown by all of our campaigners, from Stornoway to Keith, Kirkwall to Dunoon; All keen to get out, be visual and get our candidates elected to ensure our voices are not only heard but listened to at long last.

Their passion is even more incredible considering that the Alba party is only 5 weeks as of today! 

When I got the call asking if I would be willing to stand for Alba in the Highlands and Islands, I never thought we would have been embraced and welcomed so warmly by the wider Independence movement as we have been this last month. 

Independence supporting individuals and groups across Scotland have rallied to our call, and it is because of their desire; their drive for independence, that we find ourselves 6 days out from election day riding high in recent polls and predicted to win 8 seats (and counting!).

Their faith has been rewarded too. I have lost count of the number of people who’ve approached me and said that they are delighted a party is finally putting an Independent Scotland truly at the heart of every policy – as it should have been for the last 7 years. 

I, as well as the other 31 superb candidates, across all 8 regions of Scotland, have pledged to start building the brighter, better, independent nation that we all dream of, not from our ‘Independence Day’, nor the day of a referendum, but the very first day of the new Scottish parliament.

Alba has promised in our manifesto a robust, radical commitment to tackling child poverty – pledging to all but eradicate it by the year 2026 -, aims to establish a world-leading national housebuilding company addressing the housing crisis that has been worsening for almost 20 years, legislate for additional protections for women’s rights while further advancing the rights of Transgender and other LGBT+ individuals, and establishing the fiscal and monetary framework that would allow us to open independence negotiations on day one with a Super-Majority, all truly revolutionary and exciting policies, embracing those famous word engraved on our very parliament; “Work as if you live in the early days of a better nation”

There is a buzz in the air, one that I have not felt since that bonnie but, ultimately disappointing September, all those years ago. 

Those who know me personally ken that I hate leaving a job half-finished, and I have never been more excited to get out and play my part in getting our independence over the line. 

The energy I know so many of you feel justifies the statement that the Alba party is the summer of 2014 reborn in political form. 

I know that for me, it feels like we are finally, almost in the early days of our better, freer nation.

We are growing, in members, volunteers and followers. We have already gained more members than the Liberal Democrats, and by a very healthy margin too, and are forecast to win more seats than the Greens won in 2016. 

We have on our team some of the best and brightest Scotland has to offer, with former SNP big-Whig’s election agents, ex-elected officials and an army of the most battle-hardened and impassioned activists.

“Alba is rising.”

We have amazingly talented and life experienced candidates, with, of course, the main man himself, Alex Salmond as our Leader. 

We have a Party that has a vision, that is a driving force with Policies and goals for an Independent Scotland. Preparations, infrastructure and visions for our Country must be discussed and structured now. 

Our sole aim is to drive a resounding message to Westminster and Johnson (if he hasn’t resigned by the time of print) that he isn’t facing a First Minister or a single political party, but the people of Scotland, the only people who have the right to determine our future.  

We’re in touching distance of our freedom now, let’s seize this opportunity together, by casting our list votes for the Alba party on May the 6th.

*Postscript – Please note that we are holding a Highlands and Islands regional cavalcade Saturday the 1st of May in Inverness. We will be meeting at Vue cinema at 10:45 am, and I would appreciate if many of you could attend our (Covid-safe) event to show the Highlands just what Independence means to us! 

Find out more from the event on my Facebook page here – https://www.facebook.com/AlbaJudithReid

MY FINAL COMMENT

Judith is a political powerhouse, one of the many great women who have joined Alba and proving such an inspiration. We have a great bunch of people working so hard all over our wonderful country. If there is any justice in the World we will all get the result we deserve on the 6th May. It will only be the beginning!

I am, as always

Yours For Scotland

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