INVERCLYDE SNP has been rocked by another defection as a second senior councillor quits to join Alex Salmond's Alba Party.

Jim McEleny sensationally walked out on the eve of this weekend's inaugural Alba conference, which is being held in Greenock Town Hall.

Mr McEleny, who was chair of the SNP group on the local authority, cited its 'lack of urgency' on independence as the reason for his exit.

He follows in the footsteps of his son Chris, who left to join Alba just before this year's Holyrood election.

The Greenock councillor told the Telegraph he'd 'thought hard' about the decision over the past few months and that the SNP conference - also being held this weekend - refusing to allow a debate on independence strategy was the final straw.

Mr McEleny also says that when he wrote on social media last week that he'd voted against the SNP/Green coalition deal he was 'very disappointed with the avalanche of abusive comments' he received.

Now he will join his son to form an Alba group in the council chambers, as the SNP is reduced to five councillors.

Jim McEleny said: "Since the election there has been no progress on independence whatsoever.

"The coalition with the Green Party just seems like a distraction to cover kicking independence into the long grass.

"All we hear is that independence will be a priority after the pandemic is over but the reality is that Covid makes independence more vital now than ever and without it we are going to be saddled with the policies Westminster impose on us, such as removing the Universal Credit uplift which thousands of people in Inverclyde rely on, and more Tory austerity.

"Alba are now the only party campaigning for independence with urgency.

"It therefore seems obvious to me that if you believe independence is an immediate priority, not something to put off every time you win a mandate to deliver it, then joining Alba is the best way to campaign for it, now."

The Inverclyde councillor was a civil servant for four decades and an active trade union representative before being first elected in 2017.

The Tele reported earlier this year how he was giving his regional list vote to Alba in the Scottish Parliament poll but was 'staying with the SNP at the moment'.

Bosses at party HQ were silent at the time on whether he would face any action for backing a rival.

Mr McEleny said today: “I have voted SNP in every single election since the 1970s.

“However, in May I voted SNP with my constituency vote and Alba on the list.

"The whole point of the SNP used to be not to govern a devolved parliament in perpetuity but to deliver Scotland’s independence.

"I was taken aback that the SNP actively campaigned to stop more independence supporting MSPs being elected to the parliament in May’s election by encouraging people to vote SNP with their list vote when everyone knew the SNP couldn’t win list seats here."

Mr McEleny's son says he is 'delighted' to welcome his dad to the Alba Party.

He said: "We will continue to stand up for Inverclyde on issues that matter, such as bringing more jobs to the area, making our sport and leisure facilities more affordable, rolling out free school meals to every primary and secondary school pupil in Inverclyde, and making sure independence is campaigned for as an urgent priority.

“Many people agree that it is time for change in Inverclyde and Alba will make sure we shake things up in the council chambers."