Nicola Sturgeon has said she is “not concerned” about the SNP’s finances despite two high-profile resignations in the party over the matter.
The First Minister rejected allegations that £600,000 of funds raised by SNP activists has “gone missing”, in an interview with STV News.
She said that "all money goes through the SNP accounts independently and fully audited".
Joanna Cherry announced her decision to step down from the National Executive Committee (NEC) on Monday citing problems with transparency.
While MP Douglas Chapman quit his role as the SNP's natation treasurer on Saturday – claiming he was not given enough information to do the job.
READ MORE: Cherry quits SNP ruling body over transparency block
Ms Sturgeon said: “I’m not concerned about the party’s finances.
“The finances of the SNP are independently audited, our accounts are sent to the Electoral Commission in common with other parties and of course published so there’s full scrutiny around that.
“Money hasn’t gone missing. All money goes through the SNP accounts independently and fully audited.
“We don’t hold separate accounts, we’re under no legal requirement to do that, our accounts are managed on a cash-flow basis.
“But every penny we raise to support the campaign for independence will be spent on the campaign for independence.”
I’ve resigned from the NEC of @theSNP. A number of factors have prevented me from fulfilling the mandate party members gave me to improve transparency & scrutiny & to uphold the party’s constitution. I won’t be making any further comment at this stage.
— Joanna Cherry QC (@joannaccherry) May 31, 2021
Edinburgh South West MP Ms Cherry blamed issues over “transparency and scrutiny” in the party.
In a statement on Twitter, she said: “I’ve resigned from the NEC of @theSNP.
“A number of factors have prevented me from fulfilling the mandate party members gave me to improve transparency & scrutiny & to uphold the party’s constitution.
“I won’t be making any further comment at this stage.”
Despite having a resounding mandate from members to introduce more transparency into the party’s finances, I have not received the support or financial information to carry out the fiduciary duties of National Treasurer. Regretfully I have resigned with immediate effect 1/2
— Douglas Chapman MP 🏴 (@DougChapmanSNP) May 29, 2021
Mr Chapman, MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, said he was not given enough information to do the job as treasurer.
He took over the role last year and it is not clear what led to Mr Chapman’s decision, but SNP business convener and fellow MP Kirsten Oswald said she “fundamentally disagrees” with Mr Chapman’s assessment.
Deputy First Minister John Swinney was also forced to deny that Police Scotland was investigating the issue, while Labour MP Ian Murray earlier this week suggested the situation has left the SNP “in crisis”.
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