The party – which was led by Alex Salmond until his death in October 2024 – has called in police over alleged missing funds.
The Alba Party has been plunged into a financial crisis as a result of an alleged fraud, the Sunday Mail has learned.
The party – which was led by Alex Salmond until his death in October 2024 – has called in police and an investigation in ongoing.
It follows an internal row involving former general secretary Chris McEleny, who was dismissed earlier this year after initially being suspended for alleged gross misconduct.
Legal papers show an employment tribunal case has been placed on hold until a criminal investigation is concluded.
Current leader Kenny MacAskill said: “We believe we have been the victim of a fraud.
“We have reported it to the police and we are fully cooperating with them and are awaiting the outcome.
“It has left us in a very difficult financial position.”
The investigation is understood to involve claims of illegitimate expenses claims and invoices to companies which were claimed not to exist.
A source said: “This has left us clinging on by our fingernails, we will survive but it puts us in a difficult position at a time when we need money to fight an election campaign.
“We believe that we can do well and have MSPs elected to Holyrood, we are getting a great reception from the public, but we are having to deal with this situation in the background.”
MacAskill, a former SNP justice secretary and close friend of Salmond, became leader of the Alba in March last year after the sudden death of the former 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 almost 20 years.
The 61-year-old has been handed a huge boost after he secured the party’s top spot on the Glasgow region list.
The party was launched by Salmond shortly before the last Holyrood election in 2021 but has so far failed to elect any MSPs.
However it lost its only MSP last year when Ash Regan – who had previously defected from the SNP – cancelled her membership. MacAskill is also expected to stand on a regional list at May’s election. Former SNP MPs Angus McNeil, Corri Wilson and Neale Hanvey are also expected to run.
Sheridan established himself as one of the best known politicians in Scotland in the early years of devolution after he was first elected as an MSP for the Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) in 1999.
But he was forced to resign as leader in 2004 and later endured a bitter fall-out with his SSP colleagues and protracted legal battles over his decision to sue the News of the World for defamation after being accused him of an extra-marital affair and visiting a swingers’ club.
A Police Scotland spokesperson has confirmed that a complaint has been received from the Alba Party in relation to irregularities within their finances.
A spokesman said: “The investigation into this matter is ongoing.”