![\"Independence](\"https:\/\/dailybusinessgroup.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/10\/Independence-march-near-castle.png\")
Fresh questions have been raised over financial management in the independence movement after a new police investigation was launched into allegations of missing funds.<\/p>\n
The claims concern the whereabouts of \u00a31,524,998 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.<\/p>\n
David Henry, a former\u00a0SNP\u00a0branch secretary, is to meet detectives this week to hand over a dossier alleging \u201canomalies\u201d in the company\u2019s accounts. <\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Mr Henry, whose complaints in 2021 initiated the Operation Branchform investigation into SNP finances, told the Sunday Mail<\/em>: \u201cI visited Edinburgh\u2019s Gayfield Square police station on Thursday to make a complaint of fraud and received an incident number.<\/p>\n \u201cI will meet again with officers next week to give a full statement and provide them with documentary evidence related to Yes Scotland Limited\u2019s accounts and other information that I have \u00aduncovered.\u201d<\/p>\n His complaint centres on a note on income in Yes Scotland\u2019s 2014 accounts.<\/p>\n \u201cThe numbers don\u2019t match up anywhere and there are a host of other anomalies identified in my evidence and major corrections appeared in the 2015 accounts,\u201d he told the paper. <\/p>\n \u201cNothing 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.\u201d<\/p>\n Police Scotland said: \u201cWe have received a complaint and enquiries are ongoing.\u201d <\/p>\n The case follows the recent conviction and sentencing of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell for embezzling \u00a3400,000 donated to the party for the independence campaign.<\/p>\n Scottish Labour\u2019s deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: \u201cThese are incredibly serious allegations and it is right that they are considered by the police.<\/p>\n \u201cThere are still far too many unanswered questions surrounding Peter Murrell\u2019s fraudulent activities and the secrecy of the SNP.<\/p>\n \u201cJohn Swinney and the SNP need to stop running scared and come clean about these allegations and back a full financial audit of the accounts.\u201d<\/p>\n Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: \u201cPeter Murrell\u2019s crimes were enabled by the SNP\u2019s toxic culture of control and aggressive aversion to basic levels of scrutiny.<\/p>\n \u201cBut John Swinney\u2019s determination to shut down an independent inquiry shows that they haven\u2019t learned any lessons.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s why an inquiry is critical and why these latest allegations should be fully investigated by the police.\u201d<\/p>\n \t <\/div>\n