Alex Salmond 'had some awareness' of Alba fraud allegations totalling 'tens of thousands' of pounds
The Alba party is poised to not stand candidates at May’s Holyrood election over allegations of fraud.
Alex Salmond had “some awareness” of the financial turmoil amounting to “tens of thousands” of pounds facing the Alba party before he died, his successor has revealed.
Kenny MacAskill alleged the party's financial difficulties were the result of it being defrauded and that the situation had “torpedoed” Alba’s chances of standing in May’s Holyrood election, much to the dismay of prominent candidates hoping to run for parliament.
In October, The Scotsman revealed that police were investigating “irregularities” within Alba’s finances after a complaint was raised by the party leadership amid a bitter row involving former general secretary, Chris McEleny, who was dismissed after initially being suspended for gross misconduct.
Over the weekend, Mr MacAskill suggested that Alba, which has failed to get a single politician elected at Holyrood, Westminster or council level since being formed by Mr Salmond in 2021, will not be able to field candidates in May.
In an email to Alba members, seen by The Scotsman, Mr MacAskill warned that “fighting an election is simply beyond our resources”, adding that “it looks likely” the party will not be able to register with the Electoral Commission to contest the vote in May.
READ MORE: Police probing ‘irregularities’ in Alba Party's finances after concern raised by leadership
Speaking to LBC, Mr MacAskill has now stressed it would be “fanciful” to suggest Alba could contest seats in May’s election while a police investigation continues - warning the development has “torpedoed” any chance of standing for office under the Alba banner.
Mr MacAskill said: “We’re in a very difficult position. We found financial irregularities. We’ve reported them to the police. We believe that we have been the victims of a significant fraud and it’s left us in a precarious position.
“We’re in discussions with the Electoral Commission because to be able to continue as a political party, we require to have funds. We also have obligations to meet in terms of what the Electoral Commission requires, and indeed to make payments to individuals and meet the liabilities of executive members. So we’re in discussions. We’ll have to see. But it is very, very difficult.”
Asked by LBC how much the alleged fraud amounted to, Mr MacAskill said: “I think it'll be for the police to speculate, but we're talking tens of thousands and given that we are a small party, this has holed us.
“There have been some donors, but I cannot take money from people if it's going to go into a black hole. So we require to forewarn people about that.
“You know, Alex, I think, had some awareness of what was coming. But he passed before things ultimately broke.”
Former SNP MP, Angus Brendan MacNeil, who had hoped to stand for Alba, suggested that “despite temporary blips, Alba candidates will standing at the Holyrood Elections in May”.
That followed Christina Hendry, niece of Alex Salmond, warning she was “frustrated” by Mr MacAskill’s intervention, arguing “the decision to de-register the party should not rest with a handful of members in the leadership team, some of whom have no electoral mandate”.
Mr MacAskill acknowledged “there are one or two in the party who are desperate to stand”.
But he added: “We also have a duty to those who are members of the NEC who would face personal liability because you cannot go on in a business or in a political party trading as insolvent. It would simply be wrong.”
An Electoral Commission spokesperson said: “We have provided the Alba party with information about the process for deregistration.
“When a party deregisters, it can no longer contest elections under its registered name, descriptions or logo. Candidates who wish to stand in an election would need do so as independents or for another registered party.”
Comments
Want to join the conversation? Please or to comment on this article.