Police Scotland has concluded its assessment of complaints regarding the finances of the independence campaign Yes Scotland and determined there is no basis for continuing an investigation. According to BBC News, the force received information about the organisation's spending but identified nothing that would justify further inquiries.
The investigation was triggered in July when a Sunday newspaper published allegations from an activist claiming that income exceeding £1.5m could not be accounted for. However, those responsible for Yes Scotland have consistently denied any impropriety, and the organisation's legal representatives have now been vindicated by the police decision.
Yes Scotland was established by former SNP leader and First Minister Alex Salmond to promote Scottish independence ahead of the 2014 referendum. The campaign organisation ceased operations after that vote and has remained inactive since.
What sparked the complaint?
The Sunday Mail reported the allegation in July, attributing the complaint to David Henry, an activist whose earlier concerns about SNP finances had contributed to Operation Branchform—the investigation that ultimately led to the conviction of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell on embezzlement charges. The complaint centred on a discrepancy in how Yes Scotland's accounts were presented across different years. According to the Herald Scotland, the 2014 accounts reclassified £878,978 of donations, which raised the reported total income from £1,524,998 to £2,403,976, and Henry questioned why the £1.5m figure did not appear in subsequent filings.
How did Yes Scotland respond?
Blair Jenkins, who served as chief executive of Yes Scotland, denied the allegations through his legal representatives. His solicitor, Aamer Anwar, characterised the original newspaper story as stemming from
a very basic misunderstanding of accounts. The organisation subsequently submitted its complete financial records to Police Scotland for examination.
The National reported that Police Scotland's Cybercrime and Fraud Unit concluded its assessment and found no criminality involving Yes Scotland or Jenkins, determining it would not pursue further investigation at this time. The force also informed Jenkins's lawyer that
based on currently available informationthey had identified no criminal conduct.
What do the accounts show?
According to Jenkins's legal team, the Scotsman reported that the 2013 accounts recorded £2,403,976 in donations and £1,535,855 in operating costs, leaving a year-end surplus of £878,978. This accounting breakdown directly contradicts the suggestion that a substantial portion of income remained unaccounted for.
What was Aamer Anwar's statement?
Jenkins's solicitor expressed frustration with the investigation process. He stated that what followed the initial newspaper report was
a desperate attempt to link Peter Murrell's criminal conduct to the financial affairs of Yes Scotland Ltd. Anwar added that
Mr Jenkins is grateful to Police Scotland, but is sorry they were forced to waste valuable resources and time on such spurious and unfounded allegations.
Key Facts
- Police Scotland assessed information about Yes Scotland's finances and found no grounds for further investigation
- The complaint alleged that income exceeding £1.5m could not be accounted for, but the organisation's accounts showed all funds were properly recorded and allocated
- The investigation was prompted by allegations from David Henry, whose earlier concerns about SNP finances contributed to the Operation Branchform inquiry that resulted in Peter Murrell's conviction
- Yes Scotland, which campaigned for Scottish independence in 2014, has been inactive since the referendum and is no longer operational
