The Alba party, the pro-independence group founded by Alex Salmond, is to wind itself up and will not contest the 2026 Scottish Parliament election, bringing a swift end to its ambition of becoming a major political force.
The party’s ruling National Executive Committee (NEC) took the decision on Sunday, a move leader Kenny MacAskill said was made “with considerable regret”. The catalyst was direct advice from the Electoral Commission, which told the party that given its dire financial state, it should voluntarily de-register or face being forcibly struck from the register.
Financial Collapse and Allegations of Fraud
At the heart of Alba’s demise is a profound financial crisis. Mr MacAskill stated that “current liabilities far exceed both cash at hand and projected income.” He went further, revealing the party believes it has been the victim of fraud, leading to the loss of tens of thousands of pounds.
This allegation is part of an ongoing police investigation. Police Scotland confirmed it has been looking into alleged “irregularities” in the party’s finances since May 2025, following a complaint made from within Alba itself.
The financial woes were compounded by a “marked decline in membership and income”. Reports suggest hundreds of members cancelled their direct debits in a single week after the party first signalled its intention to deregister, creating an unsustainable situation.
A Party Founded with High Hopes
Alba was launched in February 2021 by the former First Minister and SNP leader Alex Salmond as a “new political force”. His aim was to create a “super-majority for independence” in Holyrood by appealing to pro-independence voters on the regional list ballot.
Under Salmond, who led the party until his death in October 2024, Alba carved out distinct policy positions. It styled itself as the only pro-independence party that was staunchly pro-oil and gas, launching campaigns like “It’s Still Scotland’s Oil“. It was also the only such party firmly opposed to the Scottish Government’s gender recognition reforms, which Salmond once called “the worst legislation in the history of devolution”.
Following Salmond’s death, Kenny MacAskill, a former SNP MSP and MP who had defected to Alba, won the leadership election in March 2025.
Internal Strife and Electoral Failure
Despite its founding principles, Alba never achieved electoral breakthrough. It failed to win a single seat in the 2021 Holyrood election, securing just 1.66% of the regional vote. It won no seats in the 2022 local elections, and all its candidates lost their deposits in the 2024 UK general election. Its sole sitting MSP, Ash Regan—who had defected from the SNP—quit the party in October 2025 to sit as an independent.
Internal fractures worsened the situation. A faction called the “Alba continuation group” had last month called for Mr MacAskill to resign if he would not lead the party into the 2026 election. The group claimed to have raised funds, but MacAskill countered that “not one penny has been received by Alba HQ”.
The party has also faced legal threats from its former general secretary, Chris McEleny, an ally of Alex Salmond, who has claimed unfair dismissal and alleged defamation.
In a statement following the NEC’s decision, Mr McEleny urged caution against public attacks on MacAskill, but lamented the loss of what he saw as a vital alternative. “Alba could have provided a much-needed alternative in the Scottish parliament,” he said.
In his valedictory remarks, Kenny MacAskill thanked the membership, stating, “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.” He concluded with a nod to the enduring independence cause: “The dream shall never die, parties as with individuals are mortal, but our cause is eternal.”
