SNP’s Westminster group submits accounts on time to keep away from shedding £1.2m in public funds

The SNP’s Westminster group has filed its audited accounts forward of a deadline, the celebration has mentioned.

The celebration confronted lacking out on £1.2m in public funds if it failed to satisfy the 31 May cut-off.

AMS Accountants Group took cost of the SNP’s books earlier this month after it was revealed in April that earlier auditors Johnston Carmichael give up in September 2022 following a overview of the agency’s consumer portfolio.

First Minister Humza Yousaf admitted he was unaware of the scenario till he grew to become celebration chief following Nicola Sturgeon’s resignation.

With the accounts submitted on time, the SNP ought to profit from so-called ‘brief cash’ – public funds paid to opposition events at Westminster to assist their parliamentary work.

On Wednesday, Peter Grant MP, the SNP’s Westminster group treasurer, mentioned: “I’m pleased to confirm that the annual return for the SNP Westminster group’s ‘short money’ for 2022/23 has received a clean audit certificate and has been submitted, on time, to the parliamentary authorities.

“Throughout this course of, SNP MPs have remained targeted on standing up for Scotland and supporting our hard-working employees.

“We will continue to hold the Tories and pro-Brexit Labour to account for the damage their policies are inflicting on Scotland.”

The SNP’s subsequent deadline is to file the entire celebration’s audited accounts with the Electoral Commission by 7 July or danger being fined. AMS Accounting can also be finishing up that work.

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Arrests, a luxurious motorhome and an influence couple’s fall: The inside story of SNP police probe

News of Johnston Carmichael quitting as auditors emerged as a police investigation into the SNP’s funding and funds ramped up.

Ms Sturgeon’s husband, former SNP chief govt Peter Murrell, was arrested as a part of the probe together with ex-treasurer Colin Beattie. Both males have been subsequently launched with out cost pending additional inquiries.

Police Scotland launched Operation Branchform in 2021.

The long-running inquiry is linked to the spending of round £600,000 raised by supporters to be earmarked for Scottish independence campaigning.

It is known there have been complaints the ringfenced money could have been used improperly by being spent elsewhere.

Police have searched the SNP headquarters and Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell’s dwelling as a part of the investigation. A luxurious £100,000 motorhome was additionally seized from outdoors the house of Mr Murrell’s mom in Dunfermline, Fife.

The SNP mentioned it has been “cooperating fully” with the investigation and would “continue to do so”.