SNP MP Natalie McGarry resigns party whip over 'missing donations' claims

The SNP saw a second of its MPs suspended from the party last night after Natalie McGarry was forced to resign the party whip over allegations of “missing donations”.

Police named the Glasgow East MP as part of its investigation into allegations that £30,000 of donations had gone missing from the pro-independence campaign group Women for Independence (WFI).

Ms McGarry, who co-founded WFI in 2012, denies any wrongdoing but said she had decided to withdraw from the party whip to ensure the allegations do not distract from her job as an MP.

Withdrawing the party whip leads to an automatic suspension from the SNP.

It is the second of the SNP’s 2015 intake of MPs to resign the party whip in three months after Michelle Thomson’s membership was suspended while police investigate property deals carried out on her behalf.

WFI reported discrepancies between donations made to the organisation and its expenditure after concerns were first raised during the summer.

Ms McGarry was only named after it was reported that WFI members complained that she was unable to account for where the money had gone.

Her lawyer said she had agreed to meet police investigating the case and had instructed forensic accountants to obtain “all the necessary information” in order to assist police in “reaching a swift conclusion”.

Earlier in the day SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon admitted the allegations against Ms McGarry were “very serious” but refused to suspend her until more detailed information about the case became known.

Labour said the allegations could “cast genuine doubt” on Ms McGarry’s election in May.

A statement issued on behalf of Ms McGarry said: “Natalie McGarry MP has decided to withdraw from the party whip although she is fully aware that this will lead to automatic suspension from the SNP; she has taken this step in the best interests of the party and the constituents of the East End who voted for her.

“She maintains she has done nothing wrong but is conscious that the events of the last 48 hours are distracting from the job she was elected to do on behalf of the SNP. She has a proud record as a principled activist and states she is determined to clear her name.”

An SNP spokeswoman said: "Following the reporting to Police Scotland of issues relating to the accounts of Women for Independence, Natalie McGarry MP has today indicated that she will temporarily be removing herself from the SNP whip at Westminster, which as a result will see her membership of the Scottish National Party suspended while the matter is investigated.

"Natalie McGarry has taken this step in order to allow the full and proper investigation of the issue.

"She now hopes that the investigation can proceed as quickly as possible, is clear that there has been no wrongdoing on her part, and will not be commenting further until the matter is resolved."