Alba Party to wind up and de-register amid financial crisis

The Alba Party has announced that it will wind up and will not field candidates in this year’s Holyrood election amid its ongoing financial crisis.

The pro-independence party, which was launched by Alex Salmond in 2021, announced the decision on Sunday.

It comes after the party’s leadership met with the Electoral Commission and were advised, given its financial position, that the party must either voluntarily de-register, or face statutory de-registration.

Members of the so-called Alba Continuation Group last month had called on leader Kenny MacAskill to resign if he was not willing to take the party into Scottish Parliament elections.

After a meeting of the national executive committee (NEC) on Sunday, Mr MacAskill said the party was in “dire financial plight”.

“Current liabilities far exceed both cash at hand and projected income,” he said.

He added: “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.

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