Alba Party to be wound down amid 'dire financial plight'

The leader of the pro-independence Alba Party has announced the party is to be wound down as a result of its "dire financial plight".

Kenny MacAskill said the party's membership had haemorrhaged and its income had plummeted, having previously said Alba would be unlikely to field candidates in the upcoming Holyrood election.

MacAskill, who took over as leader from party founder Alex Salmond following his death in 2024, has recently claimed the party's financial difficulties were the result of it being defrauded.

Police Scotland has been investigating alleged "irregularities" in their finances since May last year.

The news comes against a backdrop of some members calling for MacAskill to resign if he would not lead them into May's election.

Former SNP MP Angus MacNeil, who joined Alba after failing to be re-elected as an independent candidate in 2024, said it was a "sad and unnecessary end" to Alex Salmond's dream for the new party.

Rounding on the leadership, he said: "Someone decided it is their ball and they are going home.

"We could have saved it too, and helped gather the list votes for independence but we couldn't get control of Alba's decision making. There was great determination to finish off the party from the leadership."

Senior party figures recently met the Electoral Commission and were advised that the options for the party were either to voluntarily de-register or face statutory de-registration.

At a meeting on Sunday, the party's national executive committee decided to wind down voluntarily.

MacAskill said that a "self appointed" group for the continuation of the party claimed to have raised £20,000 for election campaigning, but that "not one penny" had been received.

He said that any sums raised would be required to meet existing debts.

He said: "With the backdrop of membership continuing to hemorrhage (sic) and income plummet. In no small part due to the acrimony generated by those claiming to have the party's best interests at heart though seemingly more intent on pursuing their own political ambitions.

"Current liabilities far exceed both cash at hand and projected income."

He added that a "campaign of disruption" and negative media coverage had resulted in a "marked decline in membership and income".

Alba was launched by former SNP leader Alex Salmond in March 2021.

The ex-first minister said the aim was to build "a supermajority for independence" at Holyrood after the election that May.

Within days two MPs, MacAskill and Neale Hanvey, defected from the SNP to join the new party.

But Alba failed to win any seats and only polled 1.7% of the regional vote.

The sudden death of Salmond in October 2024 triggered a leadership contest in which MacAskill defeated former SNP leadership contender Ash Regan.

The police investigation into Alba's finances followed a row between the party and its former general secretary, Chris McEleny.

McEleny was dismissed last year after being accused of gross misconduct.

A source previously told BBC Scotland he was "completely content" that the finances of the party under Salmond's leadership "were both sound and compliant".

Commenting on news of the party's demise, McEleny said many would be furious.

He added: "My thoughts are with all in the independence movement who will be feeling bitterly let down.

"I would like to thank all Alba Party members past and present for their support of the party under the leadership of Alex Salmond throughout my tenure as general secretary."