Alba Party 'unlikely' to stand in Scottish Parliament election

The Alba Party, which supports Scottish independence, is facing significant financial difficulties that make it unlikely to participate in the upcoming Holyrood election this May. Its leader, Kenny MacAskill, has confirmed the party is in a “perilous financial position,” which casts doubt on its ability to even register for the election. MacAskill highlighted the challenges by stating that without financial resources, the party’s viability is in question.

Kenny MacAskill, who took over leadership of Alba in March 2025 following the passing of its founder Alex Salmond in October 2024, communicated these concerns in an email seen by BBC Scotland News. MacAskill, previously SNP’s justice secretary, indicated he would share more updates on the party’s status in the near future. The leadership change came after MacAskill defeated Ash Regan in a contest triggered by Salmond’s sudden death.

The Alba Party was initially established by Alex Salmond prior to the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections with the aim of creating a “supermajority for independence” at Holyrood. Despite this ambition, the party failed to secure any seats and received only 1.7% of the regional vote. The party has also struggled with internal conflicts, including the dismissal of its former general secretary Chris McEleny last year following allegations of gross misconduct. McEleny is reportedly pursuing a case for unfair dismissal through an employment tribunal.

In his recent communication, MacAskill noted that while the Electoral Commission had shown some flexibility concerning the party’s late submission of audited accounts, Alba’s financial situation now prevents it from meeting the additional requirements, paying staff, and covering other fixed costs. This has made contesting the election an unrealistic prospect. MacAskill described this as a “bitter blow” but assured the integrity of current staff and office bearers despite the difficulties. Meanwhile, some party members, including Alba candidate Christina Hendry, who is Alex Salmond’s niece, expressed frustration, emphasizing that decisions about the party’s future should involve its entire membership, rather than just a small leadership group

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