Alba Party: Alex Salmond’s new pro-independence party suffers technical issues at launch event

At a campaign launch beset with technical difficulties, Alex Salmond announced on Friday afternoon that he had formed a new pro-independence party that would contest May’s Scottish Parliament election.

The former first minister, who also revealed he will stand as a candidate in the North East region, said the Alba Party was intent on delivering a “supermajority” in Holyrood for a second independence referendum.

But the press conference, streamed live via the new party’s YouTube channel, did not go completely to plan.

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There were repeated awkward pauses as Mr Salmond unveiled a selection of Alba’s candidates, including Chris McEleny, an SNP councillor in Inverclyde.

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Later on, Mr Salmond said: “Today, Alba is hoisting a flag in the wind, planting our Saltire on a hill.

“In the next few weeks, we’ll see how many will rally to our standard.”

The 66-year-old then introduced a video package that showed a large crowd of people waving Saltires, which appeared to be green instead of blue, on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.

Mr Salmond introduced a video package that showed a large crowd of people waving Saltires - which appeared to be green instead of blue - on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.Mr Salmond introduced a video package that showed a large crowd of people waving Saltires - which appeared to be green instead of blue - on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.
Mr Salmond introduced a video package that showed a large crowd of people waving Saltires - which appeared to be green instead of blue - on Arthur’s Seat in Edinburgh.

Hundreds of live online viewers then watched as the video package abruptly cut out, leaving Alba’s new leader on screen instead.

Mr Salmond, apparently unaware of the technical hiccup, was seen adjusting something on his lectern and gesturing to someone off-screen.

At one point the awkward silence, which lasted for around a minute, was interrupted by the sound of a door squeaking on its hinges.

The sound for reporters’ questions could not be heard until 38 minutes into the livestream.

At a campaign launch beset with technical difficulties, Alex Salmond announced this afternoon that he had formed a new pro-independence party which would contest May’s Scottish Parliament election.At a campaign launch beset with technical difficulties, Alex Salmond announced this afternoon that he had formed a new pro-independence party which would contest May’s Scottish Parliament election.
At a campaign launch beset with technical difficulties, Alex Salmond announced this afternoon that he had formed a new pro-independence party which would contest May’s Scottish Parliament election.
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Mr Salmond will no doubt be hoping the next six weeks of campaigning go more smoothly.

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