The fight for the ‘supermajority’: why Alba lost out in the Holyrood elections

Megan Kenyon | 19th May 2021 | Uncategorised
The Scottish Government. Picture: Chris Watt
The Scottish Government. Picture: Chris Watt

The party’s dream of a majority for independence may have come true, but not in the way they had hoped, writes Megan Kenyon

Internal turbulence has become a familiar component in the current incarnation of the Scottish independence movement. The events surrounding the allegations of sexual assault against former first minister Alex Salmond (of which he was acquitted in court) exposed a rift in the SNP’s united front. It came as no surprise then, when Salmond launched his own pro-independence party, Alba.  Salmond’s ambitions for Alba were clear in his opening speech as leader. Speaking just six weeks before voters headed to the polls, Salmond announced that the new party would contribute to the creation of an “Independence supermajority.” In the event of such a performance, he said, Boris Johnson would no longer be able to ignore the Scottish people’s clamouring for a second independence referendum.  But as the results came in on the weekend of 7 May, Alba’s hopes of offering an electoral contribution to the push for IndyRef2 began to fizzle out. Despite the highest turnout in the history of the Scottish el...

Subscribe to The Mace

Join the member community shaping British politics and stay ahead of what's really happening in the world of politics and public affairs, with expert analysis, breaking news, and insider insights from Westminster and Brussels. The Mace is the leading news source and resource for the government affairs industry, offering required reading and lobby intelligence for professionals.

To see what you are missing out on by not subscribing to The Mace, click here to download our full membership info-pack. This includes having no paywall on op-ed content or profiles/interviews, allowing professional profiles to be read with maximum impact and visibility by government, special advisers, MPs, peers, civil servants, and policy and political decision-makers.



Mandelson’s lobbying firm in disarray as CEO departs

Oliver Dean | February 6, 2026

Benjamin Wegg-Prosser, who co-founded the lobbying firm Global Counsel alongside Peter Mandelson has today resigned following significant backlash regarding the firm’s link to Jeffrey Epstein.

Russell Group turns to public policy veteran for next phase of university lobbying

Thomas Edwards | January 21, 2026

The Russell Group has picked Professor Libby Hackett, an Australia based public policy specialist, as its next chief executive, handing the UK’s most influential research university lobby to

Brussels Opens EU Arctic Policy Review With Public Consultation

Mace | December 29, 2025

The European Commission launches a public consultation to update EU Arctic policy amid climate pressures and rising geopolitical stakes.

China slaps dairy levies of up to 42.7 percent on EU exports

Mace | December 23, 2025

Beijing imposes provisional anti subsidy duties on EU dairy products, deepening trade tensions and hitting exporters across the bloc

Germany calls for overhaul of EU foreign subsidy rules

Mace | December 23, 2025

Berlin urges a full rethink of EU foreign subsidy controls, warning current rules impose heavy burdens and risk harming investment.

EU Council signs off delay and simplification of deforestation law

Mace | December 23, 2025

EU governments approve targeted revisions delaying the deforestation regulation, easing compliance demands while keeping core environmental safeguards in place

EU moves to expand carbon border levy to shut loopholes in polluting imports

Mace | December 19, 2025

Brussels plans to widen its carbon border levy, targeting downstream goods and loopholes to prevent carbon leakage and protect EU industry

Thai baht surge to multi year highs tightens squeeze on exporters

Mace | December 16, 2025

Thailand’s baht hits multi year peak, squeezing exporters and forcing policy makers to juggle currency stability, trade competitiveness and fragile economic recovery

Italy Joins Belgium in Challenging EU Plan to Use Frozen Russian Assets

Mace | December 15, 2025

Italy aligns with Belgium to oppose Brussels’ plan to deploy frozen Russian assets for Ukraine, complicating efforts ahead of key EU summit.

Democratic Led States Sue Trump Over $100,000 H-1B Visa Fee

Mace | December 13, 2025

Twenty US states challenge Trump’s $100,000 H-1B visa fee, arguing it exceeds presidential authority and threatens labour markets.