Alba splinter group to launch legal action in bid to save the party
The party is currently at risk of not being able to field any candidates at the Holyrood election in May
An Alba Party splinter group is planning on launching legal action in a bid to save the party.
Last weekend party leader Kenny MacAskill wrote to all party members and said fighting the upcoming Holyrood election was beyond the party’s financial resources.
He said there was an “immediate crisis” engulfing the party, meaning they had been unable to register with the Electoral Commission in time for the election.
Mr MacAskill alleged the party’s financial difficulties were the result of it being defrauded. In October, The Scotsman revealed that police were investigating “irregularities” within Alba’s finances after a complaint was raised.
Only days after this announcement, four members of Alba’s national executive committee announced they had formed the ‘Alba Continuation Group’ to try and make sure the party could in fact contest the election in May.
This includes Alex Salmond’s niece Christina Hendry, ex-SNP MP Angus B Macneil, former Scottish Socialist leader Tommy Sheridan, and Suzanne Blackley.
The continuation group says it is looking to launch legal action after calling for an emergency ballot of members.
They said they wanted the ballot to open at noon on Friday, and gave party leadership 24 hours’ notice, but this was not responded to and therefore no ballot was authorised.
In a statement, they said: “Statutory candidate registration deadlines continue to approach.
“Following legal advice and a detailed examination of the Alba Party constitution, adopted at [the] national conference in March 2025, our position is clear.
“The constitution contains a provision allowing the NEC to de-register or dissolve the party. National conference is explicitly defined as the party’s supreme governing body, and constitutional change requires a two-thirds majority of conference delegates.
“De-registration is the most far-reaching decision a political party can take, yet no authority exists for a small number of office-holders to impose that outcome without a vote of members.”
It added: “We have serious concerns about whether the NEC is currently properly constituted.
“Standing orders require vacancies to be filled immediately from the most recent ballot. That has not happened. Any body that is not constituted in line with its own rules cannot lawfully take binding decisions on behalf of the membership.”
The continuation group added: “We believe delay is being used as a tactic to run down the clock on election deadlines and deny members a meaningful choice.
“We therefore demand written answers within 24 hours on the claimed constitutional authority for de-registration, the number and status of NEC vacancies, and whether all de-registration steps will be halted to allow a ballot.
“Our view is clear, the membership ballot will take place.
“Every lawful avenue is being pursued to ensure members decide whether Alba should contest the Scottish Parliament election on 7 May 2026.”
An Alba Party spokesperson said: “The Alba Party has been operating appropriately and properly within its constitution and rules.
“Discussions are ongoing with the auditor and the Electoral Commission so that the party meets all of its financial and legal obligations.
“Any decision on a ballot of members will be taken by the NEC of the party.
“Individuals are entitled to seek whatever legal advice they wish. Any action will be strenuously defended.
“It's disappointing that a small group of members, acting without a democratic mandate or constitutional authority are causing disruption within the party, at a time when the party is seeking to deal professionally with a difficult situation, brought about by a fraud perpetrated on them.”
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