"Things are even worse now than when I told you the party was dead" says Alba leader MacAskill in latest doom-laden email to party members, as he blasts Christina Hendry and the rest of the self-appointed "Takeover Junta"

Hot off the press, here is Kenny MacAskill's latest email to Alba members, in which he gives short shrift to the presumptuous notion of the self-appointed provisional "Junta" (ie. Christina "Of The Blood" Hendry, Tommy Sheridan, Angus MacNeil and Suzanne Blackley) that they will soon be in control of the party to stop the current leadership killing it off.  I've noted before that MacAskill's discourse of doom about his own party's prospects has become a highly entertaining new art-form, and this latest offering doesn't disappoint - he signs off with "sadly, humans and parties are mortal" in big bold letters.

Also interesting to note that although MacAskill seems to now be in a state of all-out war with the Sheridan faction and the Of The Bloods, he actually seems to have the Corri Nostra and Debbie Ewen on his side as he seeks to bring the party to an end (which may mean that Tyrannical Tas, aka "Cruella", is also on board - although apparently she's been steering well clear of NEC meetings since resigning as Party Chair).  And there is a clear implication that Christina Hendry and her aunt Moira Salmond are now firmly on opposite sides of the fence.

Last but not least, I gather that part of MacAskill's email may refer indirectly to Alba HQ's former wonderbairn Robert Reid, who non-coincidentally is Christina Hendry's boyfriend.

"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.

The loss of hundreds of members who contacted us to resign with more anticipated who will simply cancel their direct debits, and which will come to light shortly.

Several candidates for the coming election have already intimated their withdrawal given the behaviour last week with another withdrawing due to a family tragedy.  

Despite protestations of fundraising by some individuals only very limited donations have been received by Party HQ and which will not offset the loss of income lost through a drop in membership. Any funds received must be applied first to meeting existing liabilities.

As a consequence of the reducing income, declining membership and existing and future liabilities we have both moral and statutory obligations towards staff. We have therefore started redundancy consultations.

Attempts were made by individuals to circumvent the Party's data control and individuals sought to restrict the Director of Operations access to IT and social media outlets. These have been reported to the Information Commissioner.

Draft Party accounts which are yet to be signed off by either the Party Treasurer or even the Auditor were publicly circulated by one of those members and entirely false interpretations made regarding the Party’s financial situation.

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 31st March. 

 

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  

Kenny MacAskill 

Alba Party Leader"

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You can read my thoughts on the historic Green victory in the Gorton and Denton by-election, and what it may mean for Scotland, in an article I've written for The National HERE.  I've also written Holyrood constituency profiles for Aberdeenshire East and Aberdeenshire West.