Former SNP MP Angus MacNeil joins Alba

Former SNP MP Angus MacNeil has joined Alba and may stand in the 2026 Holyrood election.

MacNeil was one of the SNP’s longest-serving parliamentarians in Westminster, winning the Na h-Eileanan an Iar constituency from Labour in 2005.

But he was expelled from the party in August 2023 following a row with the party’s chief whip.

He served out his term as an independent MP before losing his seat in July’s general election.

He had become a vocal critic of the SNP’s strategy on Scottish independence in the months leading up to his expulsion.

But the whip was removed after a clash between Brendan O’Hara and MacNeil over missed votes in the Commons.

MacNeil chose not to rejoin the SNP’s Westminster group when given the option, citing a lack of movement on independence as the reason, which led to his membership being suspended in July 2023.

The party’s Member Conduct Committee expelled him a month later, saying he had breached the code of conduct.

At the time, MacNeil said the he “didn’t leave the SNP – the SNP have left me”.

Alba is eyeing up a parliamentary breakthrough in the 2026 election.

The Holyrood constituency which overlaps with his former seat is currently held by the SNP’s Alasdair Allan, though MacNeil has not confirmed whether he will stand for the seat or solely on the Highlands and Islands regional list.