The Alba Party's final betrayal of its own members: having justified a DOUBLING of membership fees to "fund turning the Holyrood election into a de facto referendum", Kenny MacAskill announces at the last minute that Alba will not actually be standing in the election

This is the email Kenny MacAskill has just sent to Alba members, who yet again have been made total mugs of by a self-appointed and self-serving party elite - 

"Dear friend

Let me, firstly, thank you for your support for our Party over these past years. It has been gratefully appreciated. We were formed by Alex Salmond when the SNP faltered and fell by the wayside on pursuing the cause of Independence, compounded by their shameful treatment of him which disgusted so many of us.

It hasn’t been easy given the Party’s launch during Covid and the hostility of the SNP throughout. But we persevered. We were then though struck by the grievous blow of Alex’s tragic and early passing. Notwithstanding that we rallied in his memory and to maintain his dream which we all share.

However, as I mentioned in the last email financial irregularities have come to light since the dismissal of the General Secretary for gross misconduct. These have been reported to the Police and an investigation which we are assisting and fully cooperating with is ongoing. Matters are with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, and I expect matters to progress further shortly. This was compounded by Ash Regan MSP, our former colleague, who despite being advised of the concerns we had, instead chose to give employment to the former General Secretary thus given credence to his denials of misconduct.

I can assure you of integrity of current staff and elected office bearers but neither that nor justice being done addresses the perilous financial position which we find ourselves in as a result. Despite the sterling efforts of Corri Wilson, our Director of Operations, in stabilising and then seeking to turn matters around our financial position remains acute.

We have been in touch with the Electoral Commission who have shown great forbearance in the late lodging of audited accounts and even been helpful in our dealings with the former General Secretary who has continued to seek to damage the Party. But we face a financial situation where we simply cannot provide the further accounts which they require, along with meeting staff wages and covering other costs which we are either tied into or are required to meet. In these circumstances fighting an election is simply beyond our resources.

Even the willingness of a hardy band of activists whose efforts I am truly grateful for does not address the immediate crisis which we face. To contest an election a Party requires to be registered with them. We require to formally reregister by the end of next month. We have met with the Electoral Commission who are reflecting on the issues we have raised and the information we have provided.

However, I have to advise that it looks likely that we will not be able to register and therefore even to contest the election. That brings also into question the viability of a Party which neither has financial resource nor the ability to contest elections.

I know this will come as a bitter blow to you. It is a feeling shared by those of us who have shared your journey and have tried to steady the ship when torpedoed by the actions of an individual. But we have a duty to staff and to office bearers and members of the NEC who could face personal liability for incurred debt.

​

I will keep you advised as matters will be clearer in coming days. In the interim we will be continuing to support Moira, assist the court case to ensure justice for Alex and launching an award scheme in his name for young people to ensure his memory is forever maintained.

Our Party may have difficulties, but our cause is eternal.

The dream shall never die.

Kenny MacAskill"

The point is of course that the leadership knew about all of these issues when they hiked the membership fees only a few weeks ago - they knew there was a significant chance they wouldn't be able to re-register or to contest the election, and yet they went right ahead and hiked the fees anyway.  And what on earth was the circus over Alba's candidate selection for Holyrood all about?  It's been pointed out that it was a bit silly that Debbie Ewen brought the party to its knees over her bruised ego after being ranked second on the Lothians list rather than first, because the first-placed candidate had no realistic chance of being elected anyway.   But if none of them were actually going to be able to even stand in the election, what in heaven's name was she doing?

It sounds very much like MacAskill is softening members up for the likely total dissolution of the Alba Party (which by this point should be regarded as a tremendous relief), which begs the obvious question - will refunds to members be provided?