The pro-independence party is struggling to survive after its leader Kenny MacAskill announced last month it could not afford to contest the Holyrood election in May.
MacAskill also revealed claims of “financial irregularities” had been reported to the police and that taking part in the Scottish Parliament election on May 7 is “simply beyond our resources”.
The party was launched by Salmond in 2021 but has yet to win a single election.
The £50,000 was spent on flights between 2022 and 2024, according to a former member of the party’s finance and audit committee.
Alex Salmond, right, was Alba leader until his sudden death in 2024.
An Alba source is said to have told the Record: “Kenny MacAskill was chair of the Alba party finance and audit committee for four years and he didn’t once raise concerns about party expenditure on high spend areas, such as travel costs, to the wider membership or to the national executive committee.
“Notwithstanding that, he inherited a party that was debt free, that had made a small profit, and knew fine well what party funds were being spent on.
“To have been happy with spending at the time, to now claiming the party can’t fight the election, as he’s only just realised that he’s presided over a blackhole, is absurd.
“He must commit to fighting the election so others can start to raise the vital election funds the party needs.”
Salmond was fond of the good life. Alba probably believed he would manage to bring in money to cover the flight costs. He had good contacts that could be tapped. But then he died penniless whilst on an overseas jolly. Alba had just 4000 members but the majority we now find only paid the £1 fee. Members have been leaving and cancelling their membership MacAskill has said. Does not look promising for the gang of four including Salmond’s niece. Then there is the fact the most they have achieved in the polls is 2%. 5%+ needed to obtain a regional seat in Scottish elections. So £5000 down on Salmond flights and other issues involving a police investigation and other ‘missing money’ according to MacAskill.