Fresh questions have been raised over financial management in the independence movement after a new police investigation was launched into allegations of missing funds.
The claims concern the whereabouts of £1,524,998 of income in the accounts of Yes Scotland Ltd, which was formed in the run up to the 2014 referendum to run the official pro-independence campaign.
David Henry, a former SNP branch secretary, is to meet detectives this week to hand over a dossier alleging “anomalies” in the company’s accounts.
Yes Scotland Ltd was separate from the SNP, though it was set up by former SNP leader and First Minister Alex Salmond to campaign for independence ahead of the referendum and its books were signed off by the party. It has not been active since 2014.
Mr Henry, whose complaints in 2021 initiated the Operation Branchform investigation into SNP finances, told the Sunday Mail: “I visited Edinburgh’s Gayfield Square police station on Thursday to make a complaint of fraud and received an incident number.
“I will meet again with officers next week to give a full statement and provide them with documentary evidence related to Yes Scotland Limited’s accounts and other information that I have uncovered.”
His complaint centres on a note on income in Yes Scotland’s 2014 accounts.
“The numbers don’t match up anywhere and there are a host of other anomalies identified in my evidence and major corrections appeared in the 2015 accounts,” he told the paper.
“Nothing adds up. The Yes campaign took in millions in donations but from 2016 dormant accounts have been submitted with zero balances, the money is just gone.”
Police Scotland said: “We have received a complaint and enquiries are ongoing.”
The case follows the recent conviction and sentencing of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell for embezzling £400,000 donated to the party for the independence campaign.
Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: “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 said: “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.”
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