Alex Salmond was accused by one of his closest advisors of diverting resources away from their political party to fund his commercial Edinburgh Fringe show.
Leaked emails show Alba Party leadership contender Kenny MacAskill was so enraged by the late former first minister that he quit a key finance role in protest.
The messages, obtained by the Sunday Mail, set out how MacAskill questioned why Alba employees were working on Salmond’s The Ayes Have It! in August 2023 when they should have been on the campaign trail for a by-election.
MacAskill said they were being used to “chauffeur” guests onto the political talk show and described party members as a “fan club” for Salmond, who set it up after leaving the SNP.
MacAskill was a guest at the show alongside former Commons speaker John Bercow, Tory MP David Davis and Succession star Brian Cox. Writing to Alba general secretary Chris McEleny, the former East Lothian MP wrote: “The event in Edinburgh is not party, it is a commercial event.
“Given the focus required for the by-election, why the resources in Edinburgh?
“Alex is an experienced politician and his media company have resource.
“Where are the boundaries between a private media operation for commercial profit and a political party?”
He said that staff had been “chauffeuring and chaperoning guests on the show” and added: “I find it disingenuous to suggest that all is in personal time when timings, and indeed formal requests, suggest differently.
“I understand [an employee] drove the party leader back north last week. From what party event was that? Was he reimbursed for petrol? The dividing line between Alba and a commercial enterprise is being blurred.”
When informed that some members travelled to the event as they wanted to see the show, MacAskill said: “Members may have travelled down as we all know there’s a fan club.
“But there’s members who pay £1 a month and struggle to find £25 to feed the bairns never mind buy a ticket for what is frankly light entertainment.”
In another email the former MP, who defected from the SNP to join Alba when the party launched in 2021, said: “Whilst chauffeuring political opponents seems to have been possible other work has gone by the wayside. I am aware that the actions are being taken on the direction and with the approval of the Leader [Alex Salmond] and Chair [Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh].
“I’m also conscious what I’ve described as the fan club membership will see no issues. I view it differently and whilst I am maybe the minority, I am not alone.”
He vowed not to raise his grievances publicly but said: “I am simply not willing to put my name to the staff directions and the costs being borne by the party.
“I therefore am stepping down from convening FAC [Finance and Audit Committee]. My political views do not allow me to put my name to expenditure and actions I see as simply unacceptable.”
The Sunday Mail understands Salmond personally intervened to convince MacAskill to reverse his decision and he remained in post.
Scottish Labour’s Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie said the messages “suggest there are questions that the Alba party must answer over how it handles finances”
She said: “Transparency is essential if we want to restore trust in political parties.”
Salmond previously came under fire from Ian Blackford while he was SNP leader for spending too much party money on lavish hotels and transport while attending political events. The pair infamously fell out over it with Blackford leaving his role as party treasurer.
Salmond claimed to have fired him while Blackford insisted he quit.
MacAskill announced last week he was standing as Alba leader and was backed by Salmond’s widow Moira who described him as “not just Alex’s political ally, but his friend”.
She said “I know who Alex trusted and who he would want to continue to lead the party he established.”
But one senior party figure with knowledge of MacAskill’s complaint said Salmond had been “completely taken aback by Kenny’s behaviour” at the time and claimed “Alex no longer trusted Kenny after feeling so betrayed”.
They added: “He was deflated by the unfounded accusations.
“The reality is that even though he had managed to talk Kenny down from his inexplicable frenzy, Alex no longer trusted him and from then on – although he put on a brave face for the wider party – he did not forget and there had not been a close relationship since then in regards to the political direction of the party.”
A source close to MacAskill dismissed the claims Alex didn’t trust him and blamed the leaks on a “disgruntled employee”.
They said: “There are those in Alba who were proud to work alongside Alex and those who were happy to use him as a meal ticket.”
The row signals an implosion at the heart of Alba following Salmond’s death last October. MacAskill will battle against Ash Regan, Alba’s only elected parliamentarian, for the top job before members vote next month.
When asked for comment MacAskill said: “I don’t discuss Alba business, that would be entirely inappropriate.
“I was, and remained, convenor of FAC throughout. Any concerns expressed related to the use of party resources by a member of staff.”
Chris McEleny did not respond to a request for comment.
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