The political map of Scotland just shifted again, and not in the way the mainstream media predicted. With the dissolution of the Alba Party, many Westminster pundits expected the dream of a sovereign Scotland to simply fade into the background. They were wrong. Instead of a funeral for independence, we’re seeing a refocusing of energy. Figures like Dhruva Kumar are stepping into the vacuum, arguing that the movement isn’t about party labels or Alex Salmond’s legacy. It’s about who owns the wind, the water, and the oil.
If you’ve followed Scottish politics lately, you know the vibe is tense. The SNP is soul-searching. Alba is gone. Yet, the core grievance that fueled both remains completely unaddressed. Kumar’s current push isn't just a nostalgic nod to the 2014 referendum. It’s a hard-nosed demand for democratic control over Scotland’s massive natural resources. He’s betting that people care more about their heating bills and local jobs than they do about internal party bickering.
Why the Alba Party exit changed the math
For a long time, the Alba Party acted as a pressure valve. It was the home for those who thought the SNP was moving too slowly or focusing on the wrong social issues. When a party like that dissolves, the members don't just go home and start waving Union Jacks. They become political free agents.
Dhruva Kumar understands this shift better than most. He’s cutting through the noise to talk about the "democratic deficit." This isn't some abstract concept from a textbook. It’s the reality of a country that produces massive amounts of energy but sees the profits flow south or into the pockets of multinational corporations while local poverty rates climb. Kumar is framing independence not as a flag-waving exercise, but as an economic necessity for survival.
The collapse of Alba actually simplifies things. It removes the personality cults that often distracted from the policy. Now, the conversation is returning to the basics. How does a nation with some of the best renewable energy potential in the world ensure its own citizens aren't sitting in cold houses? That’s the question Kumar is forcing back onto the table.
The fight for democratic control of resources
Scotland’s resource wealth is staggering. We’re talking about a massive chunk of Europe’s oil reserves and a lion’s share of its offshore wind potential. But under the current constitutional setup, the "Crown Estate" and Westminster hold the keys. Kumar’s argument is punchy and direct: you can't have a real democracy if you don't control your own assets.
Think about the ScotWind leasing rounds. Huge swaths of the seabed were auctioned off. The Scottish Government got a one-off payment, but the long-term power—and the massive profits—stay with the global energy giants. Kumar is calling for a model that looks more like Norway and less like a fire sale.
- Direct ownership: Moving away from "leasing" and toward state-led development.
- Revenue retention: Ensuring that every megawatt generated translates into local infrastructure.
- Price decoupling: Breaking away from the UK’s energy pricing system that keeps bills high despite local supply.
It’s a bold stance. Honestly, it’s the kind of talk that makes the Treasury in London very nervous. When you stop talking about "identity" and start talking about "equity," the stakes change. Kumar is pushing for a transition where the workers in the North Sea aren't left behind as we move to green energy. He’s talking about a "Just Transition" that actually has some teeth.
Independence is more than just a border
Most people get this wrong. They think independence is just about a different colored passport. Kumar is arguing that it's the only way to fix a broken economic engine. You see it in the way he discusses the "Internal Market Act." This piece of legislation basically gives Westminster the power to overrule the Scottish Parliament on a range of economic and environmental standards.
For Kumar, the dissolution of Alba is a wake-up call. It proves that the "party-first" approach has failed. The movement needs to be a "people-first" movement. He’s reaching out to community groups, trade unions, and local activists who feel ignored by the big machines in Edinburgh and London.
The Norway comparison everyone ignores
People love to mention Norway’s sovereign wealth fund. It’s worth over $1 trillion. They managed their oil properly. Scotland didn't. But Kumar isn't just looking at the past. He’s looking at the future. If Scotland repeats the "oil mistake" with wind and tidal energy, it’ll be a generational tragedy.
The goal here is a democratic mandate to manage these resources for the common good. It sounds radical in a neoliberal world, but it’s actually just basic common sense. Why should a village in the Highlands pay some of the highest electricity transmission charges in Europe while they're surrounded by turbines? It’s a glaring injustice that Kumar is using to fuel the next phase of the independence campaign.
Organizing outside the traditional structures
Since the Alba Party is out of the picture, the focus is shifting to grassroots organizing. Kumar is leaning into the idea of "Radical Independence." This isn't about waiting for a Section 30 order from a Prime Minister who will never say yes. It’s about building the institutions of a state before the state even exists.
This means:
- Building local energy cooperatives: Taking power back at the municipal level.
- Resource mapping: Showing exactly where the wealth is and where it’s going.
- Constitutional conventions: Engaging the public in writing the rules for a new country, rather than leaving it to politicians.
The strategy is clear. If you make the case for independence purely about the "right to decide," you might win a few hearts. If you make it about the "right to eat and heat your home," you win the whole country. Kumar's persistence despite the collapse of his former political vehicle shows a level of conviction that's rare in the current climate.
What happens next for the movement
Don't expect a quiet year. Even without Alba, the pro-independence side is splintering into more focused, more aggressive groups. Kumar is at the forefront of this "second wave." He’s not interested in the slow-walk approach. He wants to challenge the legality of Westminster’s grip on Scottish resources in international forums.
The real test will be the upcoming elections. Without an Alba option, where do the hardline independence voters go? Some will go back to the SNP, but many are looking for a new "National Movement" that sits outside the parliament. Kumar is positioning himself as a bridge between the old-school campaigners and the new generation of climate-focused activists.
The narrative that the independence movement died with Alex Salmond’s party is lazy. It ignores the fundamental economic reality that Scotland is a wealthy country with a poor population. As long as that contradiction exists, people like Dhruva Kumar will have a platform. They’ll keep pushing for a system where the "democratic control of resources" isn't just a slogan, but a lived reality.
If you're looking to get involved or stay informed, stop watching the BBC headlines. Start looking at the community-led energy projects and the local independence hubs that are popping up in the wake of the party collapses. The movement is decentralizing. That might actually make it harder to stop. Keep an eye on the upcoming resource summits being organized across the central belt—that’s where the real policy is being written now.
