This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2017/aug/01/case-against-former-snp-mp-michelle-thomson-dropped
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Prosecutors drop fraud case against former SNP MP | Prosecutors drop fraud case against former SNP MP |
| (6 months later) | |
| Michelle Thomson says she has been exonerated by inquiry into solicitor she used and will consider her next steps | |
| Caroline Davies | |
| Tue 1 Aug 2017 18.10 BST | |
| Last modified on Mon 27 Nov 2017 19.09 GMT | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| View more sharing options | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Close | |
| A fraud case against the former SNP MP Michelle Thomson has been dropped because of “an absence of sufficient credible and reliable evidence”. | A fraud case against the former SNP MP Michelle Thomson has been dropped because of “an absence of sufficient credible and reliable evidence”. |
| Thomson, who represented Edinburgh West, was reported to prosecutors in December following a police investigation into alleged mortgage fraud. | Thomson, who represented Edinburgh West, was reported to prosecutors in December following a police investigation into alleged mortgage fraud. |
| Having always denied any wrongdoing, Thomson said on Tuesday she had been “completely exonerated”. | Having always denied any wrongdoing, Thomson said on Tuesday she had been “completely exonerated”. |
| Elected in 2015, she resigned the SNP whip when police began their inquiry and was deselected by the party before June’s general election. Thomson was one of five people named in a report sent to Scotland’s crown office and procurator fiscal service. | Elected in 2015, she resigned the SNP whip when police began their inquiry and was deselected by the party before June’s general election. Thomson was one of five people named in a report sent to Scotland’s crown office and procurator fiscal service. |
| A crown office spokesman said on Tuesday: “The procurator fiscal received a report concerning four men aged 48, 56, 59 and 59 and one woman aged 51, in relation to alleged incidents between June 16 2010 and July 26 2011. | A crown office spokesman said on Tuesday: “The procurator fiscal received a report concerning four men aged 48, 56, 59 and 59 and one woman aged 51, in relation to alleged incidents between June 16 2010 and July 26 2011. |
| “After careful consideration of the facts and the circumstances of the case, crown counsel concluded there was an absence of sufficient credible and reliable evidence and there should be no criminal proceedings at this time.” | “After careful consideration of the facts and the circumstances of the case, crown counsel concluded there was an absence of sufficient credible and reliable evidence and there should be no criminal proceedings at this time.” |
| In September, Thomson’s former SNP colleagues unanimously backed calls for the party to consider reinstating her. She was told by the SNP’s national executive in April that she would not be selected as a candidate in the election. | In September, Thomson’s former SNP colleagues unanimously backed calls for the party to consider reinstating her. She was told by the SNP’s national executive in April that she would not be selected as a candidate in the election. |
| In a statement, Thomson said: “Yesterday I received news from the crown office that confirmed I have been completely exonerated by the police investigation into a solicitor I used in 2010. I am eternally grateful to my SNP colleagues in Westminster who supported me so strongly throughout this time.” | In a statement, Thomson said: “Yesterday I received news from the crown office that confirmed I have been completely exonerated by the police investigation into a solicitor I used in 2010. I am eternally grateful to my SNP colleagues in Westminster who supported me so strongly throughout this time.” |
| She added: “I made clear before I entered politics that I wished to use my skills, drive and experience to help shape a better Scotland, and that desire remains as strongly as it did when I became very involved in the 2014 independence referendum. However, for the time being this will need to take a different form. I now intend to take a few days of reflection to consider my next steps.” | She added: “I made clear before I entered politics that I wished to use my skills, drive and experience to help shape a better Scotland, and that desire remains as strongly as it did when I became very involved in the 2014 independence referendum. However, for the time being this will need to take a different form. I now intend to take a few days of reflection to consider my next steps.” |
| The investigation centred on alleged irregularities with property deals. Thomson was linked to deals involving Christopher Hales, a solicitor who was struck off by the Scottish solicitors’ disciplinary tribunal for professional misconduct involving 13 transaction in 2010 and 2011. | The investigation centred on alleged irregularities with property deals. Thomson was linked to deals involving Christopher Hales, a solicitor who was struck off by the Scottish solicitors’ disciplinary tribunal for professional misconduct involving 13 transaction in 2010 and 2011. |
| The SNP lost Thomson’s former seat to the Scottish Liberal Democrats. | The SNP lost Thomson’s former seat to the Scottish Liberal Democrats. |
| Scotland | |
| Scottish National party (SNP) | |
| Scottish politics | |
| news | |
| Share on Facebook | |
| Share on Twitter | |
| Share via Email | |
| Share on LinkedIn | |
| Share on Pinterest | |
| Share on Google+ | |
| Share on WhatsApp | |
| Share on Messenger | |
| Reuse this content |