FORMER Alba general secretary Chris McEleny has said he will be launching legal action against the party, claiming his removal from the role was “unlawful”.
The bombshell statement came just moments after Kenny MacAskill was declared the winner in the Alba party leadership election, narrowly defeating MSP Ash Regan by 52.3% to 47.7% of the vote.
The concurrent party deputy leader elections saw McEleny defeated by former MP Neale Hanvey by a more substantial margin of 77.8% to 22.2%.
Soon after the defeat, McEleny published his statement on social media – with those present in the room saying it sent visible shockwaves through the gathered Alba members.
Statement from Chris McEleny former General Secretary of Alba Party As someone entrusted by Alex Salmond to create and build Alba Party it is important to me that we operate professionally and with the seriousness befitting a party aspiring to have a team of representatives…
— Christopher McEleny (@ChrisMcEleny) March 26, 2025
It said: “I deeply regret that our party’s current challenges have been played out in the public domain. I have refrained from any comment until the conclusion [of] our leadership elections. However, I feel compelled to lay out events so that Alba members and supporters can understand why I am unwilling to meekly accept such unjust treatment and quietly leave the party I was honoured to set up with Alex Salmond, Kirk Torrance, and the respected journalist Laurie Flynn.
“During the Christmas holiday period I was made aware that the acting party leader [MacAskill] had made several failed attempts to secure support to dismiss me.
“On Thursday January 2 (a public holiday) I learned that the acting party leader had taken the unilateral decision to suspend me despite having no constitutional authority to do so. The offence was emailing party members to inform them that I intended to serve my notice to the new party leader after the upcoming leadership elections.
“Following that on Saturday January 4, he successfully moved a motion at a meeting of the Alba Party National Executive Committee to dismiss me from my employment as general secretary.
“There was no disciplinary investigation and no disciplinary hearing. I was given no opportunity to defend myself. Any fair-minded person will understand that this is certainly completely unreasonable behaviour from an employer and likely unlawful.
“At this meeting the suggestion was made from the acting leader to the National Executive that he would ‘simply leak and smear him [me] in the press if he tries to go to an employment tribunal’ after concerns were raised over the lawfulness of the actions being undertaken.
“Rather than pursue a fair process the executive under the acting leader’s authority attempted to pressure me into resigning immediately and signing a non-disclosure agreement whilst I was medically certificated as not fit for work. My refusal has not as I had hoped led to the fair process and due consideration of the facts I was initially denied.
“The leaks and smears against me have been delivered as promised and over the past weeks details of my suspension, dismissal and allegations against me have been given to the press in an attempt to injure my character.
“The treatment I have been subjected to is biased, unfair and frankly malicious.
“On a human level this nastiness is of course upsetting but actually more troubling to me is the damage this irrational and politically naive behaviour does to the political party Alex Salmond, Alba activists, I, and others have built into a position of being within touching distance of electoral success.
“I intend to take all measures that are legally available to me to ensure fairness and integrity are upheld in my political party and my rights are defend [sic] so that I can continue to give my heart and soul towards our electoral breakthrough at next year’s Scottish Parliament elections.
“I refuse to quietly leave the party I love and the cause I have fought my whole adult life for.
“As this matter will now be subject to live proceedings I will make no further comment at this time.”
McEleny had previously accused MacAskill of bullying and harassment, accusations which the now-party leader dismissed in no uncertain terms.
“The attempt was firmly rebutted by the [national executive committee] and the matter is now being dealt with internally.
“It is not appropriate for me to comment on internal disciplinary matters.”
An Alba party spokesperson largely echoed MacAskill at the time, stating: “The proposal put to the NEC was unauthorised, unconstitutional and outwith powers of the general secretary.
“It was in any event firmly rebutted by the NEC as are further allegations. This is now the subject of internal disciplinary proceedings and we cannot comment further.”
Alba have been approached for a response.
