Chris McEleny, made the jump when the party was launched last week and will now stand on the party’s West Scotland list. Both MacNeil and McEleny have pushed for a “plan B” for Scottish independence from within the SNP, but to no avail.With speculation rife about his possible departure from the party, MacNeil told the National it was never a thought in his mind.“I had no intention of joining, it was never something I intended to do,” he said.“I can’t say that I am unhappy that there is a change in the dial on the focus on independence in this election.”There have already been a number of high profile defections from the SNP to Alba, including current SNP MPs Kenny MacAskill and Neale Hanvey, as well as McEleny and former MP George.
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