ALBA’S leader has sent a letter to members in an effort to explain the challenges currently faced by the party.
The party’s internal frictions have spilled into the public domain this week,after the leadership announced it would not be fighting the Holyrood election.
Since then former SNP MP Angus MacNeil (below) and other rebels publicly challenged Kenny MacAskill over the decision, saying they’ll seek legal advice to secure the future of the party.
The so-called “Alba Continuation Group” is also looking to hold a vote on what happens next amid concerns the party may be deregistered.
In a new letter to members, MacAskill says these interventions have left Alba in a “worse position” than last week, resulting in hundreds of people quitting the party and candidates withdrawing.
You can read the full letter from MacAskill below:
Dear friend,
I wrote last week detailing the precarious financial position our party faces as a result of a fraud perpetrated upon us and which is now the subject of a police investigation. I also advised that senior party colleagues and I had met with the Electoral Commission who were reflecting on issues before returning to us with their advice. We have a duty to lodge audited accounts with them, and which are already late due to the circumstances we have faced. Indeed, we have been struggling to lodge those for 2024 which are with the auditor and lack the funds to instruct an audit for 2025. I said I would keep you advised.
A week is a long time in politics, it’s often said, and this week has sadly proved no different. As we awaited further discussion with the Electoral Commission, a barrage of press releases, public comments and claims were made by some individuals within the party. Whilst we have often sought publicity as a party and been denied it, this was neither welcome nor helpful. Quite the contrary as a result we have endured the following.
It was suggested by four members that they were going to take charge of the party. There is neither any democratic basis to do that nor any constitutional legitimacy for it. They were asked to provide that but declined preferring to simply speak to the media. They also advised that they had provided an indemnity for NEC members who face personal liability for the party debts. That is simply not true. They wished to take charge but to leave the financial debt to be faced but not able to be resolved by others.
As a consequence of the foregoing, the party finds itself in an even worse position than it was last week, along with the damage done to the wider independence movement through their behaviour. More importantly, it has resulted in the party treasurer, a professional accountant not an elected Party member, and the auditor, an accountant based in Northern Ireland now considering whether they can sign off the party accounts without a declaration of them being on a “break up basis”.
That in a business concern would mean facing insolvency. The situation faced by our party is similar. We have liabilities that exceed our income and with little likelihood of that gap being closed. Moreover, we have potential claims of a significant scale which may require to be met. This was not the previous position of the treasurer or auditor, but last week’s events require them to reconsider. We are meeting with both early next week to discuss.
The Electoral Commission had hoped to return to us this week, but they have also deferred it until next. I am therefore unable to give a precise position on the party’s situation with the Electoral Commission as to whether we will require to de-register or even be able to re-register as a party which requires to be done by March 31
I am sorry not to be able to provide greater clarity but have been as frank and detailed as possible. I cannot understand the motivations of individuals who whether through self-aggrandisement or political ambitions are making an already desperate situation worse for our party and damaging the cause of independence.
I am though grateful to the senior management team of Corri Wilson, director of operations, Neale Hanvey, deputy leader, Debbie Ewen, acting chair and Jim Eadie, communications director. They have been to the fore in seeking to address the existing crisis which we face whilst also requiring to deal with matters which are further imperilling the situation.
I will return to you as soon as I am able with further information.
In the interim, we will continue to support Moira Salmond, who has been understandably angry and upset by the events of this week. She fully supports myself and the leadership team in our efforts to act responsibly and in the best interests of the party. We will also continue to support the ongoing legal action to ensure justice for Alex and progress plans for establishing a Foundation in his memory.
Finally, Alex’s strategy for a supermajority in 2021 was correct and Scotland would be in a better place now had that been achieved. Similarly, our call for a plebiscite election this year is the route to Independence. But events and individuals have conspired against us. Our support for independence remains undimmed as our cause is eternal even if sadly humans and parties are mortal.
Yours for Scotland
Alba Party leader
