Alba Party to be wound down amid 'dire financial plight'

March 8, 2026 - 23:44

The Alba Party, founded by former First Minister Alex Salmond, is set to be wound down following what its Westminster leader describes as a "dire financial plight." Kenny MacAskill confirmed the party's executive has taken the decision to begin the formal process of dissolution, citing unsustainable monetary pressures.

MacAskill stated that the party's membership has severely haemorrhaged and its income has plummeted in recent times, leaving its financial position untenable. This stark reality has forced the party's hand, despite the initial ambition it held following its launch in 2021. The party aimed to build a movement for Scottish independence, but has struggled to gain significant electoral traction beyond its two Westminster MPs, who defected from the SNP.

The winding-down process will now be put to the party's full membership for a vote. If ratified, it will mark the end of a political project that sought to influence the independence movement from a distinct ideological stance, emphasizing a more immediate push for separation. The development underscores the fierce competition and financial challenges facing smaller political parties in the current landscape.