A top aide to Alex Salmond has been suspended as the Alba Party’s general secretary for “gross misconduct”, according to reports.
Chris McEleny was initially suspended from the party on January 2 for allegedly not following orders from the leadership and blocking office holders from doing their jobs.
He was suspended again on February 2 and is not currently the party’s general secretary.
McEleny’s alleged gross misconduct included giving the “false and unsupported impression” that Alba supported the Tories’ bid to not give asylum seekers free bus passes. He was also reprimanded for a press release supporting Donald Trump if it would help Scotland’s economy.
Alba’s national executive committee said he had “injured the party’s reputation”. It comes after McEleny tried to have interim leader Kenny MacAskill suspended over what he alleged was a “bullying and harassment” investigation.
An Alba source told The Scotsman: “Mr McEleny was suspended from his position on January 1 for disobeying direct instructions from the party leadership and obstructing party office bearers from carrying out their duties.
“Since then he has been on a mission to tarnish and discredit Mr MacAskill in an attempt to hinder Mr MacAskill’s chances at becoming party leader.
“Mr McEleny doesn’t think the rules apply to him and when Mr MacAskill decided to apply the rules he simply couldn’t comprehend it.
“He is of course entitled to due process and we will have to wait and see what the outcome is.”
Alba told the Record: “”There is an ongoing disciplinary process and the party do not comment on internal employment matters. There is no investigation nor has there been into Kenny MacAskill the acting leader.”
MacAskill said: “There are ongoing internal disciplinary procedures underway. I can’t say any more than that at the moment.”
McEleny announced on January 1 that he would resign as general secretary when a new leader is elected.
MacAskill and MSP Ash Regan are running to replace the late Salmond as leader.
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