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New calls for Nicola Sturgeon to be suspended from SNP after fundraising leak

Leaked video shows former SNP leader angrily denying any problem with finances

Adam Forrest
Political Correspondent
Sunday 16 April 2023 11:23 EDT
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Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell arrested in SNP finance probe

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SNP leader Humza Yousaf is facing calls to suspend his predecessor Nicola Sturgeon following claims police are investigating attempts to shut down scrutiny of party finances.

Ms Sturgeon blocked plans to hire a fundraising manager for the party when she was leader and first minister despite concerns about transparency, leaked emails appeared to show.

Police Scotland detectives investigating the partyā€™s finances have been handed emails showing Ms Sturgeon quashed the idea of a fundraising manager in June 2021, according to Scotlandā€™s Sunday Mail.

The newspaper also published a video in which Ms Sturgeon told the partyā€™s National Executive Committee (NEC) that there were no problems with the accounts, despite concerns.

Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labourā€™s deputy leader, said Mr Yousaf should suspend both Ms Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell while police inquiries continue.

ā€œThis bombshell revelation goes to show just how central Nicola Sturgeon was to the secrecy and culture of cover-up that festered within the SNP,ā€ said Ms Baillie.

ā€œShe has big questions to answer over her actions and Humza Yousaf must consider suspending her party membership and that of her husband, former chief executive Peter Murrell, until the investigation has been concluded.ā€

Extracts from leaked emails appeared to show that a suggestion to hire a fundraising manager was rejected by Ms Sturgeon, with those carrying out a review ordered to remove the idea from their final report.

The suggestion was reportedly made by former SNP treasurer Douglas Chapman and his sucessor Colin Beattie as part of the transparency review.

The leaked footage from an SNP NEC meeting in March 2021 showed Ms Sturgeon giving her top officials a stern warning to be ā€œvery carefulā€ about suggesting there was ā€œany problemsā€ with party accounts.

She said: ā€œJust be very careful about suggestions that there are problems with the partyā€™s finances ā€¦ There are no reasons for people to be concerned about the partyā€™s finances, and all of us need to be careful about not suggesting that there is.ā€

Nicola Sturgeon speaking to reporters outside her home
Nicola Sturgeon speaking to reporters outside her home (PA)

The latest revelations follow the shock arrest of Ms Sturgeonā€™s husband and the search of the coupleā€™s Lanarkshire home during a police raid. Mr Murrell was later released without charge, as police continue to investigate the partyā€™s finances.

The probe into Ā£660,000 raised specifically for Scottish independence campaigning was launched after it was alleged money had been diverted from a ā€œring-fencedā€ fund, sparking the exit of several senior people from the SNP.

Mr Yousaf has denied the SNP faces bankruptcy this weekend as he confirmed forensic auditors could be appointed following a meeting of the partyā€™s ruling body.

The Sunday Times reported that the partyā€™s treasurer Mr Beattie told the SNPā€™s NEC meeting on Saturday it is ā€œhaving difficulty in balancing the books due to the reduction in membership and donorsā€.

SNP leader Humza Yousaf insists party ā€˜not close to bankruptcyā€™
SNP leader Humza Yousaf insists party ā€˜not close to bankruptcyā€™ (PA Wire)

But the recently-elected SNP leader told reporters: ā€œWeā€™re not close to bankruptcy. This is something Iā€™ve read in some social media circles but, no, the party is solvent.ā€

Mr Yousaf said the party is ā€œdesperateā€ to appoint new auditors. Last week it emerged he was unaware before becoming leader that the previous auditors resigned more than six months ago.

The SNP leader also said he was not aware about the purchase of a camper van by the party, seized by police, after he became first minister last month.

SNP MP Joanna Cherry, who resigned from the NEC when the fundraising row first emerged, said she had ā€œnever seen business conducted in such an inadequate way as it is on the SNP NECā€ ā€“ saying its business had been conducted in a ā€œmenacing atmosphereā€.

But the SNPā€™s former Westminster leader Ian Blackford said on Sunday that the partyā€™s finances are in ā€œrobust healthā€ following claims its ruling body was told it is struggling financially.

Mr Blackford told BBC Radio Scotland: ā€œAbsolutely, categorically, the SNP is solvent, the finances are in balance. We will be able to meet our obligations, our liabilities going forward. Everybody knows there has been a dip in SNP membership.ā€

An SNP spokesperson said: ā€œYesterday, the SNP National Executive Committee agreed to a series of proposals to increase transparency in the SNP. It is the case that the SNP accounts are published annually and are in order.ā€

The Independent has contacted Police Scotland for comment.

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