Thread by @DeanMThomson

Back in March we had members of SNP Finance & Audit Committee resign, claiming lack of access & information to party accounts.

Now in May SNP finance boss Douglas Chapman quit over 'lack of information'

It's time we asked: what the hell is going on with SNP finances?
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➡️Back in March...

It was reported that Frank Ross (qualified chartered accountant, Lord Provost of Edinburgh Council), Livingston company director Cynthia Guthrie & Mid Scotland & Fife NEC member Allison Graham had all resigned from the SNP's Finance & Audit Committee
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At the time it was alleged that they had felt compelled to resign due to Peter Murrell (SNP chief exec, husband to Nicola Sturgeon) was refusing them full access to the party accounts.
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This is very interesting since much has been made about the apparent absence of the 'ring-fenced' £600,000 indyref2 fund the SNP raised.

Looking at the 2019 party books for example, it isn't clear where any of that money is.
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For example, the 2019 accounts show only £97,000 in the bank as 'cash in hand'. The question of how then the £600k 'ringfenced' crowdfund was "woven through" these figures has remained unanswered by the SNP.
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All of this has become even more interesting since Livingston company director Cynthia Guthrie (who resigned from the SNP Finance & Audit Committee back in March remember) has since defected to the Alba party.

So she was clearly deeply unhappy with something in the SNP...
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➡️May events

Now if fast forward to the latest events in this twisting tail, we witness Douglas Chapman, the SNP MP for Dunfermline and West Fife has announced he had resigned as national treasurer of the party.

Why? He only took the role last year...
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Well according to Mr Chapman on twitter he felt compelled to resign since was being blocked from delivering on his mandate to apply more transparency into party finances.
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What is even more intriguing about the resignation of Mr Chapman on these grounds is that Police Scotland have confirmed that a complaint has been made to them concerning alleged misuse of the £600,000 'ring fenced' indyref2 fund.
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Of course John Swinney has denied that the police were "investigating" the whereabouts of this ring-fenced fund. His exact wording hedged about "to the best" of his "knowledge".

He told BBC Sunday show how confused he was about this whole situation.
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Perhaps 'Honest John' is displaying the same honesty here as he displayed concerning the Salmond Inquiry when he held back from the Holyrood committee important information until after Sturgeon testified? Something Jackie Baillie complained to the FM about at the time
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But police Scotland state they have received the complaint and are still deciding whether or not they will launch a formal investigation.

So Police Scotland still might end up "investigating" the SNP regarding this matter.
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So some questions the SNP urgently need to answer:

◾️ Why was the SNP Finance & Audit Committee not allowed to see full party books back in March?
◾️ 2019 accounts showed only £97,000 in bank, so how, precisely, was £600k 'ringfenced' crowdfund "woven through" figures?
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◾️ Is it true that the national treasurer of the SNP was not given enough information to do his job in May?
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◾️ If Police Scotland shift from assessing the complaint to formally investigating, will the SNP fully and completely cooperate with the Police? (given they refused to cooperate fully with the 'Salmond Inquiry')
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Further information:

➡️I did a deeper dive into the SNP accounts situation back in March. You can find my old twitter thread on that here

https://twitter.com/DeanMThomson/status/1373691397610569733?s=20

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Sources:

SNP finance boss Douglas Chapman quits over 'lack of information'
bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotla…

Cynthia Guthrie, Alba Party candidate
albaparty.org/cynthia_guthrie

SNP 2019 Accounts
search.electoralcommission.org.uk/Api/Accounts/D…

March resignations from the SNP Finance & Audit Committee
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Worth noting:

https://twitter.com/ScotsWumman/status/1398951574970552322

Update:

Joanna Cherry has resigned from NEC of SNP citing opposition to greater transparency inside the SNP today.