This article is from the source 'bbc' 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.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65212357
The article has changed 9 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| SNP auditors quit amid Peter Murrell police investigation | SNP auditors quit amid Peter Murrell police investigation |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Police carried out a search of the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh this week | Police carried out a search of the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh this week |
| The firm that audits the SNP's finances has resigned, the BBC has learned. | The firm that audits the SNP's finances has resigned, the BBC has learned. |
| Accountants Johnston Carmichael, which has worked with the party for more than a decade, said the decision was taken after a review of its clients. | Accountants Johnston Carmichael, which has worked with the party for more than a decade, said the decision was taken after a review of its clients. |
| Police investigating the SNP's finances this week searched the home of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell - Nicola Sturgeon's husband. He was arrested and released without charge. | Police investigating the SNP's finances this week searched the home of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell - Nicola Sturgeon's husband. He was arrested and released without charge. |
| The BBC understands Johnston Carmichael resigned before Mr Murrell's arrest. | The BBC understands Johnston Carmichael resigned before Mr Murrell's arrest. |
| A spokesperson for the SNP said it was in the process of finding a replacement firm. | A spokesperson for the SNP said it was in the process of finding a replacement firm. |
| Sturgeon out of event as two-day police search ends | Sturgeon out of event as two-day police search ends |
| Peter Murrell released without charge after arrest | Peter Murrell released without charge after arrest |
| Police Scotland has been investigating the SNP's finances since July 2021. | Police Scotland has been investigating the SNP's finances since July 2021. |
| On Wednesday, Mr Murrell was arrested while dozens of officers carried out a high-profile search at his Glasgow home and SNP headquarters in Edinburgh. | On Wednesday, Mr Murrell was arrested while dozens of officers carried out a high-profile search at his Glasgow home and SNP headquarters in Edinburgh. |
| Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell had high profile roles in the SNP for years | Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell had high profile roles in the SNP for years |
| Ms Sturgeon, Scotland's former first minister, was at the house when police arrived but said she had "no prior knowledge" of Police Scotland's plans. | Ms Sturgeon, Scotland's former first minister, was at the house when police arrived but said she had "no prior knowledge" of Police Scotland's plans. |
| Mr Murrell was questioned while the search took place then released without charge on Wednesday evening. | Mr Murrell was questioned while the search took place then released without charge on Wednesday evening. |
| First Minister Humza Yousaf, who succeeded Ms Sturgeon last week, said his party had "fully co-operated" with police and would continue to do so. | First Minister Humza Yousaf, who succeeded Ms Sturgeon last week, said his party had "fully co-operated" with police and would continue to do so. |
| He said that he was "very, very clear that the governance of the party was not as it should be". | He said that he was "very, very clear that the governance of the party was not as it should be". |
| Why are police investigating the SNP? | |
| Police Scotland launched an investigation in July 2021 after complaints about how SNP donations were used. | |
| The funds were donated for a new independence referendum campaign. | |
| The SNP raised £666,953 through referendum-related appeals between 2017 and 2020. | |
| Nicola Sturgeon said she was "not concerned" and "every penny" would be spent on the independence drive. | |
| Questions were raised after SNP accounts showed just £97,000 in the bank at the end of 2019, and total assets of about £272,000. | |
| Mr Murrell, who has been married to Ms Sturgeon since 2010, resigned last month after taking responsibility for misleading statements about a fall in party membership. | |
| Last year it emerged that he gave a loan of more than £100,000 to the SNP to help it out with a "cash flow" issue after the last election. | Last year it emerged that he gave a loan of more than £100,000 to the SNP to help it out with a "cash flow" issue after the last election. |
| The party had repaid about half of the money by October of that year. | The party had repaid about half of the money by October of that year. |
| At the time an SNP spokesman said the loan was a "personal contribution made by the chief executive to assist with cash flow after the Holyrood election". | At the time an SNP spokesman said the loan was a "personal contribution made by the chief executive to assist with cash flow after the Holyrood election". |
| He said it had been reported in the party's 2021 accounts. | He said it had been reported in the party's 2021 accounts. |
| Weeks earlier, MP Douglas Chapman had resigned as party treasurer saying he had not been given the "financial information" to do the job. | Weeks earlier, MP Douglas Chapman had resigned as party treasurer saying he had not been given the "financial information" to do the job. |
| A van reversed into the tent outside the house of Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon | A van reversed into the tent outside the house of Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon |
| A van reversed into the tent outside the house of Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon | A van reversed into the tent outside the house of Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon |
| The SNP is required to prepare financial statements in accordance with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000. It has until 7 July to present their accounts to the Electoral Commission. | The SNP is required to prepare financial statements in accordance with the Political Parties, Elections and Referendum Act 2000. It has until 7 July to present their accounts to the Electoral Commission. |
| If there is no report and no reasonable excuse, the commission has the power to appoint its own firm of auditors. | If there is no report and no reasonable excuse, the commission has the power to appoint its own firm of auditors. |
| The SNP's accounts for 2021 were published on 16 August 2022. | The SNP's accounts for 2021 were published on 16 August 2022. |
| The party's total income was £4,510,460, total expenditure was £5,262,032, assets were £1,630,454 and liabilities were £1,055,689. | The party's total income was £4,510,460, total expenditure was £5,262,032, assets were £1,630,454 and liabilities were £1,055,689. |
| Electoral Commission rules state any party with income or expenditure of more than £250,000 is required by law to also independently audit their accounts and include this report in their submission. | Electoral Commission rules state any party with income or expenditure of more than £250,000 is required by law to also independently audit their accounts and include this report in their submission. |
| Officers remained stationed outside Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon's home on Wednesday evening | Officers remained stationed outside Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon's home on Wednesday evening |
| Scottish Labour's deputy leader Jackie Baillie said the resignation of Johnstone Carmichael was a deeply worrying development that posed "serious questions" about the SNP's financial affairs. | Scottish Labour's deputy leader Jackie Baillie said the resignation of Johnstone Carmichael was a deeply worrying development that posed "serious questions" about the SNP's financial affairs. |
| She said: "Yesterday, Humza Yousaf attempted to distance himself from the legacy of Peter Murrell - today we need to know what the current first minister plans to do to get the SNP's house in order. | She said: "Yesterday, Humza Yousaf attempted to distance himself from the legacy of Peter Murrell - today we need to know what the current first minister plans to do to get the SNP's house in order. |
| "Sunlight is the best disinfectant - we need transparency and openness from the SNP now." | "Sunlight is the best disinfectant - we need transparency and openness from the SNP now." |
| Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative constitution spokesperson Donald Cameron said the SNP should be "fully transparent" over why their auditors decided to quit. | Meanwhile, Scottish Conservative constitution spokesperson Donald Cameron said the SNP should be "fully transparent" over why their auditors decided to quit. |
| He said: "The public are sick of the SNP shrouding matters relating to their finances behind a wall of secrecy, and senior figures - including Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon - must be upfront about this situation." | He said: "The public are sick of the SNP shrouding matters relating to their finances behind a wall of secrecy, and senior figures - including Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon - must be upfront about this situation." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| SNP (Scottish National Party) | SNP (Scottish National Party) |