The social gathering – which was led by Alex Salmond till his dying in October 2024 – has referred to as in police over alleged lacking funds.
The Alba Social gathering has been plunged right into a monetary disaster because of an alleged fraud, the Sunday Mail has discovered.
The social gathering – which was led by Alex Salmond till his dying in October 2024 – has referred to as in police and an investigation in ongoing.
It follows an inside row involving former common secretary Chris McEleny, who was dismissed earlier this yr after initially being suspended for alleged gross misconduct.
Authorized papers present an employment tribunal case has been positioned on maintain till a prison investigation is concluded.
Present chief Kenny MacAskill mentioned: “We imagine we’ve been the sufferer of a fraud.
“We’ve got reported it to the police and we’re totally cooperating with them and are awaiting the end result.
“It has left us in a really troublesome monetary place.”
The investigation is known to contain claims of illegitimate bills claims and invoices to firms which have been claimed to not exist.
A supply mentioned: “This has left us clinging on by our fingernails, we’ll survive but it surely places us in a troublesome place at a time after we want cash to battle an election marketing campaign.
“We imagine that we are able to do properly and have MSPs elected to Holyrood, we’re getting an awesome reception from the general public, however we’re having to cope with this case within the background.”
MacAskill, a former SNP justice secretary and shut pal of Salmond, turned chief of the Alba in March final yr after the sudden dying of the previous first minister.
In January it emerged left-wing firebrand Tommy Sheridan is planning a sensational return to the Scottish Parliament with Alba after a break of just about 20 years.
The 61-year-old has been handed an enormous enhance after he secured the social gathering’s high spot on the Glasgow area record.
The social gathering was launched by Salmond shortly earlier than the final Holyrood election in 2021 however has to this point did not elect any MSPs.
Nonetheless it misplaced its solely MSP final yr when Ash Regan – who had beforehand defected from the SNP – cancelled her membership. MacAskill can also be anticipated to face on a regional record at Could’s election. Former SNP MPs Angus McNeil, Corri Wilson and Neale Hanvey are additionally anticipated to run.
Sheridan established himself as among the finest identified politicians in Scotland within the early years of devolution after he was first elected as an MSP for the Scottish Socialist Social gathering (SSP) in 1999.
However he was pressured to resign as chief in 2004 and later endured a bitter fall-out along with his SSP colleagues and protracted authorized battles over his resolution to sue the Information of the World for defamation after being accused him of an extra-marital affair and visiting a swingers’ membership.
A Police Scotland spokesperson has confirmed {that a} grievance has been obtained from the Alba Social gathering in relation to irregularities inside their funds.
A spokesman mentioned: “The investigation into this matter is ongoing.”
