Labour has called for MSPs under police investigation to be suspended as Keir Starmer’s party demanded the SNP “came clean” over the probe into its finances.
Sir Keir’s Shadow Commons leader, Thangam Debbonaire, pointed to the police investigation into the SNP’s finances in the Commons, appealing for First Minister Humza Yousaf to suspend MSPs who are the subject of police inquiries.
She also raised questions about the SNP’s auditors.
Read more: Ex-SNP boss Peter Murrell seen in public for first time since arrest
Speaking during a session of questions related to the business of the House of Commons, Ms Debbonaire said: “It’s emerged that the SNP’s auditors have also resigned from doing their Westminster group’s accounts as well as the national party’s.
“Now, I understand that senior SNP figures failed to inform the authorities here about that. Could the Leader tell us if she knows if this is correct? Because this is serious, it’s taxpayers’ money.
“Can I ask the Leader of the House to intervene to make sure that SNP finances that provide money for some of their political staffing here in Parliament have been properly accounted for and used for the purposes for which it is intended?
“Does she agree with me that as the police investigation spreads, the First Minister, leader of the SNP, should take a basic step of suspending members of the Scottish Parliament who are the subject of police inquiries?
Read more: Boris Johnson ally Lord Frost calls for downgrading of Holyrood
“Isn’t it time the SNP came clean about who knew what and when? The Scottish people deserve much better than this.”
In response, Tory Commons Leader Penny Mordaunt, said: “(Ms Debbonaire) raises the matter of the SNP and short money. And although we all enjoy a joke at the SNP’s expense, these are really serious matters.
“I shan’t comment on her suggestion about people being suspended under police investigation, to save her blushes, it might have included the Leader of the Opposition (Sir Keir Starmer) who has been in that camp before.
“But these matters are not a matter for me. But I understand that unless the SNP have audited accounts by March 31 they will lose their short money after the April payment.
Read more: Rishi Sunak says Nicola Sturgeon left SNP and Scotland 'in a mess'
“I understand also that Ipsa (Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority) may also have considerations to make. I think the SNP’s membership will feel rightly let down by this, similar to how the rest of Scotland will feel with the SNP’s poor stewardship of public money.”
Short money refers to financial assistance given to opposition parties to carry out their duties in the House of Commons.
The SNP has been approached for comment.
Why are you making commenting on The Herald only available to subscribers?
It should have been a safe space for informed debate, somewhere for readers to discuss issues around the biggest stories of the day, but all too often the below the line comments on most websites have become bogged down by off-topic discussions and abuse.
heraldscotland.com is tackling this problem by allowing only subscribers to comment.
We are doing this to improve the experience for our loyal readers and we believe it will reduce the ability of trolls and troublemakers, who occasionally find their way onto our site, to abuse our journalists and readers. We also hope it will help the comments section fulfil its promise as a part of Scotland's conversation with itself.
We are lucky at The Herald. We are read by an informed, educated readership who can add their knowledge and insights to our stories.
That is invaluable.
We are making the subscriber-only change to support our valued readers, who tell us they don't want the site cluttered up with irrelevant comments, untruths and abuse.
In the past, the journalist’s job was to collect and distribute information to the audience. Technology means that readers can shape a discussion. We look forward to hearing from you on heraldscotland.com
Comments & Moderation
Readers’ comments: You are personally liable for the content of any comments you upload to this website, so please act responsibly. We do not pre-moderate or monitor readers’ comments appearing on our websites, but we do post-moderate in response to complaints we receive or otherwise when a potential problem comes to our attention. You can make a complaint by using the ‘report this post’ link . We may then apply our discretion under the user terms to amend or delete comments.
Post moderation is undertaken full-time 9am-6pm on weekdays, and on a part-time basis outwith those hours.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel