Will Alba Party Make it to the Scottish Parliament Election?

The Alba Party, a new pro-independence party in Scotland, is facing a significant setback as it struggles to register for the upcoming Scottish Parliament election. According to party leader Kenny MacAskill, the organization is in the midst of an "immediate crisis" that makes it unlikely to meet the registration deadline.

The crisis, although not explicitly detailed by MacAskill, has raised concerns about the party's ability to participate in the election. The Scottish Parliament election, scheduled to take place on [Date], will see voters elect 129 Members of the Scottish Parliament (MSPs) to represent Scotland's 73 constituencies and eight regions.

The Alba Party, launched in March 2021, aims to promote Scottish independence and provide an alternative to the Scottish National Party (SNP). The party's leadership, including MacAskill, a former SNP Justice Secretary, and Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh, a former SNP MP, has been critical of the SNP's approach to independence.

However, the party's registration crisis has sparked worries among supporters and observers alike. If the Alba Party fails to register, it may not be able to field candidates in the election, effectively excluding it from the electoral process.

The Electoral Commission, responsible for overseeing the registration process, has not commented on the Alba Party's situation. However, the commission's guidelines state that parties must submit their registration applications at least 20 working days before the election.

The Alba Party's predicament has also raised questions about the party's organizational capabilities and its preparedness for the election. While MacAskill has acknowledged the crisis, the party has not provided a detailed explanation of the issues it is facing or a plan to resolve them.

As the registration deadline approaches, the Alba Party's fate hangs in the balance. If it fails to register, the party's absence from the election could have significant implications for the pro-independence movement in Scotland and the outcome of the election itself.

In a statement, MacAskill urged supporters to remain calm and assured them that the party was working to resolve the crisis. However, the party's prospects for participating in the election remain uncertain, leaving many to wonder if the Alba Party will make it to the Scottish Parliament election.