By Lucy Ashton
Shadow Secretary of State for Scotland, Ian Murray MP, has today written to Stephen Flynn MP; the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority, and the Leader of the House of Commons seeking answers over the SNP’s current auditor chaos.
It has been reported this morning that the SNP Westminster group have until the 31st of May to secure new auditors or else they will lose over £1 million pounds of “short” money – putting jobs at risk – used by MPs for running their office and paying their staff.
SNP Westminster leader Stephen Flynn and Labour MP Ian Murray.
Writing to Stephen Flynn MP, Ian Murray MP asked:
- When were you made aware that the SNP group at Westminster did not have an auditor?
- Which person or persons made you aware that Johnston Carmichael would no longer audit your group’s accounts?
- When were you made aware that Johnston Carmichael had also resigned as national auditors for the SNP?
- What communication have you had with Johnston Carmichael?
- Will the SNP Group in Westminster be able to submit its annual accounts on time this year?
- What protections will you be putting in place for your staff [salaries] given the possibility of the short money withdrawal owing to a lack of auditor?
Ian Murray MP said: “The chaos engulfing the SNP’s finances is now putting jobs at risk and threatening the functioning of their already fragmented parliamentary group.
“The people of Scotland face being denied the parliamentary voice that they voted for due to the financial incompetence of the SNP.
“We need to know today what Stephen Flynn is planning to do to end the chaos that he has inherited.
“It is vital, in the interests of transparency – something that is becoming increasingly clear the SNP knows little about – that these questions are answered in full and without delay.”
BREAKING NEWS: 3PM. THURSDAY, APRIL 14, 2023
Humza Yousaf has confirmed a luxury motorhome seized from Peter Murrell’s mother’s house does belong to the SNP. The vehicle was taken away by police officers investigating the SNP’s finances.
It had been claimed by SNP insiders the motorhome was bought for the 2021 Scottish election, which took place while Covid restrictions were still in place. While the SNP refused to comment when the story broke at the weekend, the first minister said that was the case.
And he also confirmed he had seen the warrant listing other items confiscated as part of the probe. Former party chief executive Mr Murrell was arrested last week in connection with the investigation into an alleged ‘missing’ £600,000 of party funds.