A SCOTTISH Labour candidate who previously stood for the SNP and Alba has refused to say whether he still supports independence.
Irshad Ahmad will contest the Edinburgh North Western seat for Scottish Labour at next year’s Holyrood election – five years on from backing Alex Salmond’s plans for an independence “super majority” at the last election.
Ahmad was previously a member of the SNP, and was an unsuccessful list candidate for the party in 2016 under former leader Nicola Sturgeon.
While an SNP member, he also tried to oust Ash Regan as the MSP for Edinburgh Eastern in the 2021 election – accusing her of being insufficiently serious about independence.
Speaking to The National the year before the vote, Ahmad said: “Ash may be popular in the area, but after speaking to local members, they want to push for independence, which doesn’t seem to be on Ash’s agenda."
In a social media post around the same time, he said: “Six years on from the last referendum, the situation has never been more favourable, but little has been done. Mandates ignored, policies not developed and most worryingly a veto granted to Boris Johnson.
“I’m standing to ensure we deliver, not talk about independence. SNP candidates must commit to delivering the will of the Scottish people, not stupidly taking dictation from an English Tory Government.”
He subsequently defected to Alba under Salmond’s leadership, calling on Scots to back efforts to secure a “super majority” for independence, telling The Scotsman: “This is the only way we can get a majority.
“We have experience, in 2016, in the Lothians, where we got 118,000 votes, and I was number three on the Lothian list and wasn’t even selected.
“I think the best way is first vote SNP, and second vote Alba, this is the only way we can get the supermajority.”
He added: “I’m a grassroot activist, and I believe in independence. I only joined the SNP because I wish for independence, but this is the time.
“This is the only way we can get the supermajority, otherwise I think things could go the same way as they did in 2016.”
Ahmad will now run as a Scottish Labour’s candidate in Edinburgh next year, the Daily Record reports.
Alba have demanded he comes clean on his stance on independence. A party spokesperson told The National: “Irshad Ahmad’s political journey is surprising to say the least.
“It’s for him to square his past support for independence with membership of a Unionist party imposing austerity on millions in Scotland.”
Asked about his stance on the constitutional question, Ahmad said: “Just like many people across Scotland, I am delighted to have chosen a new direction with Scottish Labour.
“With Anas Sarwar as First Minister, Scottish Labour will turn the page after nearly 20 years of decline under the SNP.”
