WATCHDOGS have been urged to investigate the charity chaired by SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh after just 2.8 per cent of its income was donated in her three years in charge.
Labour last night called on the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (Oscr) to examine why so little was given to good causes by the Scottish Asian Women’s Association (SAWA). SNP MP Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh
The Scottish Liberal Democrats also said Audit Scotland should step in.
The calls added to the pressure on Ms Ahmed-Sheikh, a close ally of Alex Salmond who was elected MP for Ochil and South Perthshire last year, to account for her oversight of the charity.
The Herald revealed yesterday that SAWA, whose £16,000 launch was paid for by taxpayers, registered income of £25,027 between July 2012 and April 2015 under Ms Ahmed-Sheikh.
However it spent just £700 in donations, less than its website (£767) or accountant (£744).
The figures revived claims that SAWA was little more than a publicity vehicle for Ms Ahmed-Sheikh, a former Labour member and Tory candidate who joined the SNP in 2000.
The SNP Government used £9260 of public money to entertain and dine 160 guests at the launch of SAWA in April 2012, and secured Stirling Castle for the event, worth another £7000.
Mr Salmond, the then First Minister, and Nicola Sturgeon, his deputy, both attended.
Ms Ahmed-Sheikh had only applied to register SAWA as a charity 48 hours earlier.
Seen as a rising star in the party, Ms Ahmed-Sheikh later became a member of the Yes Scotland board and stood for the SNP in the 2014 European and 2015 general election.
On the eve of the European poll, a SAWA Facebook page urged people: “Remember to vote SNP on Thursday to get Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh elected and keep Ukip out of Scotland”.
Ms Ahmed-Sheikh and her fellow SAWA trustees failed to live up to a commitment to increase the charity’s donations after the low level was queried by the Herald last year.
In a statement, they said “the Trustees agreed to concentrate activities” in 2015 to mark the 20th anniversary of the Commission on the Status of Women Declaration.
“To this end, 2014/2015 accounts will detail those activities, expenditure and donations.”
Ms Ahmed-Sheikh, 45, quit as a SAWA chair and trustee the day after she became an MP.
Since her exit, SAWA has donated £11,000 to charities and good causes.
Labour public services spokeswoman Jackie Baillie said: “There are a number of serious questions that need to be answered about the conduct of this enterprise."
“Why did it spend so little in charitable donations when it was sitting on such a large pot of money, why did it actively promote a candidate during an election on its social media?
"There are clear issues here which would warrant an investigation from Oscr.”
LibDem MSP Tavish Scott added: "This should be independently investigated by Audit Scotland who are beholden to no government.”
Ms Ahmed-Sheikh said: "Following our own fundraising efforts between 2013 and 2014, SAWA made a range of donations in 2015, and continues to plan and carry out its work in this important area, in addition to planning future events. It should be counted as a success that the charity is well funded for its future work. "
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