THE Alba Party announced today that it will be dissolved and will field no candidates in May’s Holyrood elections.

The party was founded five years ago by former SNP First Minister Alex Salmond, who led it until his sudden death in 2024, when Kenny MacAskill took the helm after a bruising leadership battle with Ash Regan.

The announcement comes just weeks after Mr MacAskill warned financial “irregularities” discovered in its finances led him to believe a fraud had been perpetrated on the organisation.

With the Electoral Commission advising that the party should either voluntarily de-register or face statutory de-registration, its NEC chose the latter at a meeting today.

Speaking afterwards, Mr MacAskill said: “I wish to place on record my grateful thanks to the membership for their efforts for our party and for our cause. It has been a privilege to work with them. 

“We can be proud of what we sought to achieve and also the support which we gave to our founder in his time of need.

“The dream shall never die, parties as with individuals are mortal, but our cause is eternal.”