Thread by @MartinJKeatings

Look! I understand people can't get it, namely, why on one hand do you express your disappointment that the announcement of alba may cause issues for you, but on the other hand step down to clear the way and then join them?

It's simple. The two are mutually exclusive. I've tried time and time again to explain that I don't make my decisions based on emotion, I make them based on empirical data and what's best for Scotland.

Now would it be good to be offered the opportunity to stand with ALBA now that there's no longer candidates standing for AFI - sure it would. But I very much doubt that would happen.

I made my choices based on only one thing - is ALBA a bigger vehicle to deliver a supermajority - and the answer is most certainly yes. That choice comes with it consequences (and trust me, for me that could be some very big consequences) but the fact remains, I didn't....

...get into politics for personal ambition (sure I can come across as an egotistical twat, but that comes down to the fact I'll debate anyone but can't abide debating someone who cant be bothered to research the subject matter O_O you know who you are!)

I got into politics to campaign for an independent Scotland - period! That's it. That's my only concern.

So when the data in front of me changes and warrants a change in direction, even if there's a cost - that change has to be considered and a choice made.

Sticking fingers in the ears and going LALALA wont get us to independence. The facts here are - does #MAXtheYES strategy for a supermajority work? The mathematics tells me YES. Is ALBA going to be able to make a bigger impact that AFI would have...

...and again the facts on the ground tell me YES. And this is the same conclusion the whole of the NEC came to (although there was a we bit of disagreement on how we should do it - but that is NORMAL for any party - debate is healthy). The reality is....

....I watched NEC member after NEC member and candidate after candidate from AFI say their piece one at a time and every single one of them said exactly the same thing (not verbatim obviously). The core of their message was the same...

....our core values are to maximise the yes vote on the regional list AND to put Scotland before Party, so how could we not clear the way for a bigger vehicle to deliver the message we've been fighting for.

And at that point, albeit for many it may have been through gritted teeth, the decision was made and announced. It's really that simple - And you know what? That evoked pretty strong emotions...there was clear sadness that AFI was for all intents and purposes...

...not continuing after immense work. But at the same time there was happiness at the fact that AFI's message was being formally acknowledged as the right one by extremely heavy hitters.

The AFI strategy was vindicated. So at that point, it was clear - the work of AFI (and others) was not a waste, it started a debate on the fact that unionist parties have been abusing the list for their electoral advantage for years. A new strategy was necessary for...

...the purposes of equality of arms.

It was the right thing to do - period. And so we stood down. Many of us have joined Alba as ordinary members and we'll see what happens.

But in reality this isn't a debate about MAXtheYES or which party you are loyal to. This is about putting aside party politics and doing what is right for the country. And what is right for the country is a Yes supermajority.

A yes supermajority is more important than you know. There is legislation which requires a supermajority in parliament to change. I doubt, if a change is related to indyref2 the unionists would back it, ergo a Yes Majority is definitely required.

And once you realise that, then you study the maths which shows the SNP are only going to get a few seats maximum on the regional ballot, with up to 55 unionists elected by default and a million regional votes go to waste.

The only conclusion you can reach is to cast SNP on the constituency ballot and another on the regional. Alba has the wherewithal to deliver on that ballot, but it requires everyone to realise that if we unite we can win, and if we can win, we can deliver independence.

And I guess that's all I can say really.

Oh! And one other thing. I've obviously joined Alba, because if you're going to commit to a course of action - COMMIT! I've never understood this one leg in, one leg out philosophy, which is just a lack of commitment.