SNP members call for Ash Regan to resign after 'kick in the teeth' defection

dailyrecord.co.uk:

SNP members have described the defection of MSP Ash Regan as a “kick in the teeth” and called for her to resign. The Edinburgh Eastern MSP surprised Alba party conference goers last weekend when she revealed she had quit the SNP to join former first minister Alex Salmond’s party.

An email sent from the executive members of the Edinburgh Eastern SNP branch last week said her defection was an insult. They said: “I’m pretty sure that you, like us, will be feeling let down and very hurt right now. “Many members across the constituency worked hard, knocking doors, delivering leaflets, stuffing envelopes, to get Ash elected in 2016 and then again in 2021 and so Ash’s decision feels like a real kick in the teeth.

And it is. “The people of Edinburgh Eastern voted in 2021 for an SNP MSP, not an Alba MSP. “In that election, Alba received only two per cent of the list vote in this constituency.

Nothing suggests that Alba are any more popular now than then. “We agree with Humza Yousaf - Ash should have the decency to resign and trigger a by-election so that the voters of Edinburgh Eastern can have their say on her decision to abandon the party that got her elected.” They also urged members to campaign more actively for other candidates in the next election and said: “The most positive way to respond to this unjust situation is to channel our energies into getting SNP representatives elected by supporting the campaigns of Tommy Sheppard for Edinburgh East & Musselburgh, and Simita Kumar for Edinburgh South in the Westminster election next year.” An Alba spokesman said: “The language used is unfortunate and mirrors the violent tone taken by an SNP MP on the BBC Debate night programme during the week. “Ash is staying true to