Alba Party to be de-registered as party is no longer financially viable

The national executive committee met in Perth on Sunday where they decided to formally wind up the party after discussing the updated 2024 accounts.

Last week the Electoral Commission advised the pro-independence party they should voluntarily de-register the party or face statutory de-registration “given the grave financial situation".

The party said the decision was taken “with considerable regret”, and will not be fielding any candidates in the upcoming Scottish Parliament election.

Neale Hanvey, the party’s deputy leader, said: “This is not where any of us wanted to be or expected us to be but the fact is that a fraud was perpetrated against the party and that has led to a catastrophic domino effect of £36,000 being withheld by the Electoral Commission and a contingent liability for £108,000 which has already been spent.

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“In addition, as the treasurer and auditor have made clear, our outgoings far exceed current income.

“In these circumstances the national executive committee has taken the only responsible decision open to it to de-register the party.”

Mr Hanvey maintains the party’s leadership has acted “professionally and in accordance with our statutory obligations” throughout.

This comes after a splinter group called the Alba Continuation Group was set up by four members, including Alex Salmond’s niece Christina Hendry, former Scottish Socialist leader Tommy Sheridan and former SNP MP Angus B Macneil.

Party leader Kenny MacAskill, who took over after the death of Alex Salmond in 2024, wrote to party members where he hit out at the continuation group.

He said: “They claimed £20,000 had been raised. I can advise that not one penny has been received by Alba HQ from them despite our dire financial plight.

“In any event sums raised could not go for election campaigning but would be required to meet existing liabilities.”

He added party membership had “continued to haemorrhage and income plummeting”, which it said is partly down to “the acrimony generated by those claiming to have the party's best interests at heart”.

Speaking on Sunday afternoon, Mr MacAskill said: “I wish to place on record my grateful thanks to the membership for their efforts for our party and for our cause.

“It has been a privilege to work with them. We can be proud of what we sought to achieve and also the support which we gave to our founder in his time of need.

“We will continue to support Moira Salmond, assist those pursuing justice in the courts for Alex and launch an awards foundation in his memory for the benefit of young people.

“The dream shall never die - parties as with individuals are mortal, but our cause is eternal.”

Some within the party have said Mr MacAskill has “killed” the party off due to his “vanity, intransigence and hostility”.

A senior party source said: “Kenny MacAskill has killed Alex Salmond’s Alba Party. His vanity, intransigence and hostility towards anyone willing to make a success of his failure will be of no surprise to anyone that has ever known him but it will be a profound shock to Alba Party members who put their faith in him.

“Independence supporters put their trust in Kenny to carry on Alex Salmond’s dream - instead they got a quitter and a loser who has killed their party.”

The party’s former general secretary Chris McEleny added: “Many will be furious at the decision of Kenny MacAskill to wind up the Alba Party, but I would urge caution in regard to any public attacks on him.

“His actions of the past year have not been those of a rational person but rather someone who has not been of fit enough health or of the right temperament to lead a political party.”

He added: “Sadly, since the passing of Alex Salmond, the Alba Party was led and run by individuals with a gross lack of competence and political ability.

“It is deeply regrettable that the efforts of the Alba members to save the party, such as the Alba continuation group, were unsuccessful and my thoughts are with all in the independence movement who will be feeling bitterly let down.”