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| SNP ruling body meets over party governance and transparency | |
| (about 5 hours later) | |
| Humza Yousaf has said the public has "very reasonable" questions to ask the SNP | Humza Yousaf has said the public has "very reasonable" questions to ask the SNP |
| The SNP's ruling body has met to discuss how to improve the party's transparency and governance later. | |
| The National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting comes amid a police probe into party finances and a row over the release of membership numbers. | The National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting comes amid a police probe into party finances and a row over the release of membership numbers. |
| First Minister Humza Yousaf has said the public has "very reasonable" questions to ask over transparency. | First Minister Humza Yousaf has said the public has "very reasonable" questions to ask over transparency. |
| He also said he was unware until he became leader that the SNP's auditors had resigned more than six months ago. | He also said he was unware until he became leader that the SNP's auditors had resigned more than six months ago. |
| Johnston Carmichael resigned last September, and there is concern the party may be unable to conduct an audit due in July. | |
| On Thursday, the new SNP leader also said he had only recently learned that the SNP had bought a luxury motorhome. | |
| It was seized by police from outside a property in Dunfermline last week. | It was seized by police from outside a property in Dunfermline last week. |
| Ex-minister tells SNP to hire forensic accountants | Ex-minister tells SNP to hire forensic accountants |
| Ex-SNP chief will not be suspended from party - FM | Ex-SNP chief will not be suspended from party - FM |
| Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, Nicola Sturgeon's husband, was also arrested while their home was searched as part of the police investigation. He was later released without charge. | Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, Nicola Sturgeon's husband, was also arrested while their home was searched as part of the police investigation. He was later released without charge. |
| One NEC member has now suggested he might resign unless "forensic auditors" are appointed to examine the party's finances | One NEC member has now suggested he might resign unless "forensic auditors" are appointed to examine the party's finances |
| Bill Ramsay, the SNP trade union group convener, said: "I have been raising issues about the governance of the party for some time. | Bill Ramsay, the SNP trade union group convener, said: "I have been raising issues about the governance of the party for some time. |
| "In June last year, as the world was moving out of governance restrictions imposed by Covid, I was making calls for more transparency. | "In June last year, as the world was moving out of governance restrictions imposed by Covid, I was making calls for more transparency. |
| "I forced a vote to ensure that members of the NEC could see how other members were voting." | "I forced a vote to ensure that members of the NEC could see how other members were voting." |
| He added: "If the call to appoint forensic auditors is not moved forward, I will have to seriously consider whether I can continue on the NEC." | He added: "If the call to appoint forensic auditors is not moved forward, I will have to seriously consider whether I can continue on the NEC." |
| Police carried out a search of the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh last week | Police carried out a search of the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh last week |
| Police are investigating SNP finances in response to complaints about how the party spent more than £600,000 of donations that it had received from activists. | Police are investigating SNP finances in response to complaints about how the party spent more than £600,000 of donations that it had received from activists. |
| Accountants Johnston Carmichael, which audited its accounts for more than a decade, said the decision to no longer work with the party was taken after a review of its clients. | Accountants Johnston Carmichael, which audited its accounts for more than a decade, said the decision to no longer work with the party was taken after a review of its clients. |
| Meanwhile, Mr Yousaf has said he will set out his "positive, ambitious and radical vision" as he campaigns in an area where the SNP could face a by-election. | Meanwhile, Mr Yousaf has said he will set out his "positive, ambitious and radical vision" as he campaigns in an area where the SNP could face a by-election. |
| The SNP leader will be in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency on Saturday, where there is the potential for a recall petition to be used against sitting MP Margaret Ferrier. | |
| Ms Ferrier won the seat for the SNP in 2019 - but was later found to have damaged the reputation of the Commons and placed people at risk by taking part in a debate and travelling by train while suffering from Covid-19. | Ms Ferrier won the seat for the SNP in 2019 - but was later found to have damaged the reputation of the Commons and placed people at risk by taking part in a debate and travelling by train while suffering from Covid-19. |
| If she is barred from the Commons for 10 days or more, that could trigger a recall petition, which would result in a by-election in the constituency - although 10% of voters there would need to support this for it to go ahead. | If she is barred from the Commons for 10 days or more, that could trigger a recall petition, which would result in a by-election in the constituency - although 10% of voters there would need to support this for it to go ahead. |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| SNP (Scottish National Party) | SNP (Scottish National Party) |
| Humza Yousaf | Humza Yousaf |