Chris McEleny was dismissed as Alba general secretary over the allegations earlier this year.
A longstanding ally to Alex Salmond has been suspended from the Alba Party over complaints of “gross misconduct”, according to reports. Chris McEleny, who was dismissed as the pro-indy party’s general secretary in February in the wake of the allegations, has now been stripped of his membership.
McEleny, a longtime ally of late Alba founder Salmond, previously vowed to fight the complaints and has claimed he was bullied by the party leadership. Former Scottish justice secretary Kenny MacAskill now leads Alba after Salmond’s death last year.
In a statement to The National, an Alba spokesperson said: “Mr McEleny was dismissed from his employment as General Secretary for gross misconduct. His membership has subsequently been suspended by the Conduct Committee, following the receipt of formal complaints and pending the outcome of an ongoing investigation.”
McEleny’s alleged misconduct relates to not following orders from the leadership and blocking office holders from doing their jobs, we’ve previously told.
Sources close to McEleny said the timing of the announcement was “vindictive” and a play to prevent him from standing as an Alba candidate in next year’s Holyrood election.
They told the National: “Chris is very upset and hurt over the actions he has been subjected to.
“He only learned about this latest decision via the press, on Good Friday – a day that anyone who knows him knows he spends at church and in prayer.
“The timing appears nothing short of vindictive and most likely as a means to stop him becoming an Alba Party candidate at the Scottish elections.”
The party has one MSP – SNP defector Ash Regan – but has never claimed seats in the Scottish Parliament via the ballot box.
McEleny currently works for Edinburgh Eastern MSP Regan on her communications strategy.
She was defeated by MacAskill at the end of March in the leadership contest to succeed Salmond following his death in North Macedonia last October. Former Inverclyde councillor McEleny lost out on the deputy leadership to former MP Neale Hanvey.
After his defeat, McEleny launched a blistering attack on the Alba Party leadership in his concession speech.
Taking to the podium at a venue in Edinburgh, he said: “The result was not a surprise to me, but nonetheless I am still sad as I fear this may be the last time I have the opportunity to speak from an Alba Party platform, as I believe the next step in this election campaign will be to suspend my membership.
“I think that’s sad as four years ago today, I was the first elected representative to join the Alba Party.
“During my political career I’ve had the kitchen sink thrown at me on two occasions – the first of course was back when telling Nicola Sturgeon she needed a Plan B for independence, as we knew the referendum route was going to be blocked, and we should use an election to declare our independence.
“The second time was this election campaign.
“The last few months have, of course, been quite difficult. It’s not the best platform to stand on when the leadership decides to email all members, on the eve of the election, telling them to dismiss you from your employment.
“But I can’t make any more comment on that as it is now subject to legal proceedings.”
Sources close to McEleny said Salmond – who shared a flat with him in London for many years during the former first minister’s time in Westminster – would be “angry” at his treatment if he was still alive.
They said: “We can’t help but think how angry Alex would be at the treatment of one of the few people that stood by him through thick and thin when many of his former colleagues were too busy trying to get elected on an SNP ticket whilst they were unlawfully treating him and trying to imprison him.
“Chris is grateful that he is now currently working for Alba Party’s Holyrood leader Ash Regan helping to develop the policies and the messaging for Alba to win next year. He will continue focused on delivering success for Alba and urges everyone else to do likewise.”
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