Police Inquiry into Yes Scotland Campaign's Finances
Police are conducting inquiries following a complaint regarding the financial records of Yes Scotland, the organisation that campaigned for Scottish independence during the 2014 referendum.
The Sunday Mail has reported claims that over £1.5 million in income was unaccounted for by the campaign group.
The complaint was reportedly made by David Henry, an individual whose previous concerns about the Scottish National Party's (SNP) finances contributed to the Operation Branchform investigation and the subsequent conviction of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell.
Yes Scotland Ltd was established by former SNP leader and First Minister Alex Salmond to campaign for independence ahead of the 2014 referendum. The company has been inactive since that year.
Its most recent dormant accounts, published last year, indicated a zero balance.
The organisation responded to the Sunday Mail stating that all funds are accounted for and that no wrongdoing has occurred. They also noted that Peter Murrell did not have access to its bank accounts.
The SNP has emphasised that Yes Scotland Ltd was an "entirely separate organisation" from the party.
David Henry told the Sunday Mail that the campaign company's accounts from 2016 onward showed a zero balance, and that the £1.5 million recorded earlier appeared to have "just gone".
A Police Scotland spokesperson said:
"We have received a complaint and inquiries are ongoing."
'Incredibly Serious Allegations'
This development follows the imprisonment of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, who was sentenced to over five years in prison after admitting to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party over a five-year period.
Murrell's actions were investigated by Police Scotland and the Crown Office under Operation Branchform.
Scottish Labour's deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie commented:
"These are incredibly serious allegations and it is right that they are considered by the police.
There are still far too many unanswered questions surrounding Peter Murrell's fraudulent activities and the secrecy of the SNP.
John Swinney and the SNP need to stop running scared and come clean about these allegations and back a full financial audit of the accounts."
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay stated:
"Peter Murrell's crimes were enabled by the SNP's toxic culture of control and aggressive aversion to basic levels of scrutiny.
But John Swinney's determination to shut down an independent inquiry shows that they haven't learned any lessons.
That's why an inquiry is critical and why these latest allegations should be fully investigated by the police."
An SNP spokesperson said:
"The criminal actions of Peter Murrell were uncovered by a complex and extensive police investigation which found the SNP was the victim of embezzlement."
