Scottish Justice Secretary Humza Yousaf has dismissed the possibility of forming a coalition with Alex Salmond’s Alba Party following the May 2021 Scottish Parliament elections.
Yousaf’s comments came in response to speculation that the SNP and Alba could team up to form a majority government after the election.
Speaking at an SNP event, Yousaf said: We have a strong, clear, unequivocal position that we will not be forming a coalition with Alba. We believe that the best way to deliver for the people of Scotland is through a strong, single-party government.
Yousaf’s comments were echoed by other senior SNP figures, including First Minister Nicola Sturgeon. In an interview with the BBC, Sturgeon said: I don’t think a coalition is the right way forward for Scotland. I think it’s important that we have a strong, stable government that can deliver for the people of Scotland.
The SNP’s rejection of a coalition with Alba is a significant blow to Salmond’s party, which was founded in March 2021. Salmond has said that he wants Alba to be a catalyst for change in Scottish politics, but the party has struggled to gain traction with voters.
The latest polls suggest that the SNP is on course to win a majority of seats in the Scottish Parliament election. If the SNP does win a majority, it will be the first time that a single party has won an outright majority in the Scottish Parliament since its creation in 1999.
Kind regards
E. Thompson
