On 26 March 2021, former first minister Alex Salmond officially launched the Alba Party and assumed its leadership. The party was established to contest the regional lists in the 2021 Scottish Parliament elections with the stated aim of building a “supermajority for independence”.

Salmond served as first minister of Scotland from 2007 to 2014 and as leader of the Scottish National Party (SNP) for two terms (1990-2000 and 2004-2014). Salmond resigned from the SNP in August 2018.

Alba’s core ideology was fundamentalist Scottish nationalism, arguing for independence to be treated as an “immediate necessity”. The party argued that the Scottish government does not need “permission to choose independence.”

Alba proposed that a majority of votes for pro-independence parties at any national election would constitute a popular mandate to begin independence negotiations with the UK government. The party suggested using the 2026 Scottish Parliament elections as a “direct vote for independence”, and expressed support for an all-party “independence convention” to “come together… to drive forward the independence campaign.”

Alba combined this with a more economically radical and socially conservative stance on certain issues, which distinguished it from the more established pro-independence parties, such as the SNP. Notably, Alba was staunchly opposed to the Gender Recognition Reform (Scotland) Bill, which sought to amend the Gender Recognition Act 2004, making it simpler for people to change their gender without having to obtain a medical diagnosis. Salmond described holding a gender-critical belief as a “cardinal aspect of Alba policy”.

Alba was also republican and proposed that an independent Scotland should have an “elected head of state with similar powers to the Uachtarán na hÉireann [president of Ireland].”

Alba was voluntarily de-registered with the Electoral Commission on 26 March 2026 – the fifth anniversary of its official launch – with the party facing reportedly severe financial and political problems. The decision followed a meeting of the party’s national executive committee (NEC) in Perth.

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The Alba Party was founded by retired television producer Laurie Flynn on 8 February 2021.

Alba’s formation was fuelled by a breakdown in the relationship between Salmond and Nicola Sturgeon, then the first minister of Scotland. In 2019, Salmond was arrested and charged with sexual assault and attempted rape for allegations that were said to have occurred during his tenure as first minister. In March 2020, Salmond was acquitted of all charges at trial.

Salmond announced his return to frontline politics in March 2021 with the founding of the Alba Party. He was joined by two sitting SNP MPs, Kenny MacAskill and Neale Hanvey, both Salmond allies.

At Alba’s launch, Salmond declared: “The party’s strategic aims are clear and unambiguous – to achieve a successful, socially just and environmentally responsible independent country.

“The tactics are to stand on the regional list to secure the supermajority for independence in our parliament.”

He added: “Today we are making an entirely positive statement and also asking people to come forward and give us support.”

Salmond confirmed he would stand on the North-East Scotland list in the 2021 Scottish Parliament election.

Responding to Alba’s formation, Sturgeon said: “I take no pleasure whatsoever in saying this but I think there are significant questions about the appropriateness of his return to public office given the concerns that have been raised about his behaviour previously but that’s for voters to judge and decide.”

Alba’s manifesto for the 2021 election outlined that the party was “established to bring urgency into the timetable for delivering independence for Scotland, by maximising the list vote to build a pro-independence supermajority at Holyrood and to use our place as part of that supermajority to make absolutely sure there is no more backsliding on timetables.”

In the 2021 election, the party secured 44,913 votes (1.7%) on the regional list vote and zero MSPs.

In the 2022 local elections, all 111 Alba candidates failed to win a seat, securing 12,335 votes (0.7%).

In October 2023, the party gained its first representative in the Scottish Parliament when Ash Regan, a former SNP leadership contender and minister, defected to Alba.

Regan placed third in the 2023 SNP leadership election, winning 5,599 votes (11.1%) in the first round. Regan had resigned from the Scottish government in October 2022 over the Gender Recognition Reform Bill. In her resignation statement, Regan said her “conscience” could not allow her to vote for the gender reform proposals.

During the leadership campaign, Regan argued that the SNP should treat all future elections, to the Scottish or Westminster parliaments, as de facto referendums. Regan insisted that pro-independence parties polling more than 50% of the vote would constitute a mandate to open negotiations with the UK government.

Setting out her stall for the SNP leadership, Regan stated that there had been “no progress on independence in the last few years, despite the worst UK governments of all time.”

She added: “Since Westminster is preventing Scotland from having its say on independence through a referendum, our only legal option is to use the ballot box we do have access to.

“At every election going forward, we will make it crystal clear that a majority of votes for the SNP, and other pro-independence parties, will be a democratic mandate for independence.”

Regan defected to Alba in the wake of the SNP leadership contest, claiming her former party had exposed its “wavering commitment” to Scottish independence.

In a statement, Regan said: “Sadly, it has become increasingly clear that the SNP has lost its focus on independence, the very foundation of its existence.

“I could not, in good conscience, continue to be part of a party that has drifted from its path and its commitment to achieving independence as a matter of urgency.

“I am proud to become the first Alba member of the Scottish Parliament. I do this with a clear focus on reinvigorating the cause of independence.”

In April 2024, Alba rose to prominence over the vote of confidence in the SNP government of Humza Yousaf. Regan, who stood against Yousaf in the 2023 SNP leadership election, effectively held the casting vote with the parliamentary arithmetic so finely balanced. The Scottish Greens, the SNP’s former pro-independence partners in government, were lined up to vote against Yousaf, alongside the Scottish Conservatives, Scottish Labour and the Scottish Liberal Democrats.

If Regan sided with the SNP, the result would have been a 64-64 tie. According to precedent, the parliament’s presiding officer would then have cast their deciding vote against the motion of no-confidence.

At the time, Salmond referred to Regan as the “most powerful MSP in the Scottish Parliament”.

On 28 April, Salmond said his party was “prepared to assist” Yousaf “as long as independence is restored as the key priority of the Scottish government.” The intervention came after Yousaf reportedly ruled out a pro-independence SNP-Alba pact.

On 29 April, Yousaf resigned as first minister of Scotland, saying he was not willing “to trade my values and principles – or do deals with whomever – simply for retaining power.”

The no-confidence vote in the Scottish government was subsequently rejected by 70 votes to 58. In the wake of Yousaf’s resignation, the Scottish Greens voted against the motion.

At the 2024 general election, the party fielded 19 candidates, winning 11,784 votes (0.5%). Both MacAskill and Hanvey were unseated, and all 19 candidates failed to reach the 5% threshold, losing their £500 deposits.

MacAskill stood in the constituency of Alloa and Grangemouth, placing eighth with 637 votes (1.5%). Hanvey finished seventh in Cowdenbeath and Kirkcaldy with 1,132 votes (2.8%).

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In October 2024, Salmond, Alba’s founder and leader, died unexpectedly.

According to the party’s constitution, the Alba depute leader, MacAskill, assumed interim control of the party.

A leadership election followed, pitting MacAskill, the effective incumbent, against Regan, Alba’s sole MSP. MacAskill said it was “essential to maintain Alex’s legacy and to deliver his dream of Scottish independence.” Regan told the Scotsman that she hoped to lead Alba to an electoral “breakthrough”.

Regan said: “This is a really exciting time for Alba because there was some polling a couple of weeks ago showing us making an electoral breakthrough and winning three seats.

“I believe, with the right leadership, this can be exceeded and we can win even more seats and become the kingmakers of the next government.”

In the end, MacAskill won 1,331 votes (52.3%) to Regan’s 1,212 (47.7%). The party reported 5,002 eligible members for its leadership contest.

Hanvey, a former nurse, was elected as Alba depute leader with 78% of the vote, defeating ex-general secretary Chris McEleny. The campaign was fractious, featuring claims of bullying and harassment, as well as McEleny’s suspension as general secretary.

MacAskill had a long career in Scottish politics. He served as the Scottish government’s cabinet secretary for justice from 2007 to 2014, and was a member of the Scottish Parliament from 1999 to 2016. He won a seat in the House of Commons at the 2019 general election. A former member of the SNP, he defected to Alba in March 2021.

In his victory speech, MacAskill said: “This was an election brought about by the tragic passing of our founder Alex Salmond.

“He will never be forgotten but the duty that now falls to me and all Alba party members is to deliver his dream of independence.”

In October 2025, Regan announced her decision to leave Alba in order to “focus” on her efforts to criminalise paying for sexual services.

In a statement, Regan said: “My priorities and principles remain exactly as they were when I entered politics – to advance independence, protect women and children, and deliver competent government for Scotland.

“With my Unbuyable Bill entering a crucial stage, it’s clear that I can best focus on those goals as an independent MSP.

“I am grateful to the many Alba members and campaigners who have supported me, particularly the women who have stood with me for years.”

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The MacAskill leadership collapsed within months.

In February 2026, MacAskill informed members of alleged fraud amounting to tens of thousands of pounds. “At the present moment, if we are unable to contest the [2026 Scottish Parliament] election, then I think you have to question what the nature of our political party is”, he said at the time.

Meanwhile, an internal breakaway faction, the Alba Continuation Group, attempted to seize control. The group, which included NEC members Tommy Sheridan and Angus MacNeil among others, called for an emergency membership ballot to decide whether Alba would contest the 2026 elections.

The faction, which claimed that it could raise funds to contest the election and keep the party afloat, called for MacAskill to resign if he was unwilling to lead Alba into Scottish parliament elections.

In March 2026, the Alba national executive committee met with the Electoral Commission. Confronted with the choice of voluntary or statutory de-registration, the party officially deregistered and dissolved on 26 March 2026 – exactly five years after its public launch.

MacNeil, who joined Alba after failing to win re-election to the parliament at Westminster as an independent candidate in 2024, said the move marked a “sad and unnecessary end to Salmond’s dream for the new party.

In a statement, MacAskill said: “Current liabilities far exceed both cash at hand and projected income.

“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.”