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| SNP ruling body orders governance and transparency review | SNP ruling body orders governance and transparency review |
| (37 minutes later) | |
| The SNP's ruling body has ordered a review of transparency and governance with "external input" which could include forensic auditors. | The SNP's ruling body has ordered a review of transparency and governance with "external input" which could include forensic auditors. |
| The National Executive Committee (NEC) met on Saturday amid a police probe into party finances and a row over the release of membership numbers. | The National Executive Committee (NEC) met on Saturday amid a police probe into party finances and a row over the release of membership numbers. |
| Party leader Humza Yousaf said a new working group would publish an interim report in June. | |
| It will be followed by a full report ahead of the SNP's autumn conference. | It will be followed by a full report ahead of the SNP's autumn conference. |
| Asked if the review would go far enough, Mr Yousaf told BBC Scotland: "It is important that the financial oversight that we are committed to improving comes from the external input as opposed to within the party." | Asked if the review would go far enough, Mr Yousaf told BBC Scotland: "It is important that the financial oversight that we are committed to improving comes from the external input as opposed to within the party." |
| 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 |
| Last week Mr Yousaf revealed that he had been unware until he became leader that the SNP's auditors had resigned more than six months ago. | Last week Mr Yousaf revealed that he had been 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. | 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 and first minister also said he had only recently learned that the SNP had bought a luxury motorhome. | On Thursday, the new SNP leader and first minister 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 as part of an investigation into the party's finances. | It was seized by police from outside a property in Dunfermline last week as part of an investigation into the party's finances. |
| Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell was questioned by police but released without charge last week | Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell was questioned by police but released without charge last week |
| Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, Nicola Sturgeon's husband, was also arrested while their home was searched. He was later released without charge. | Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, Nicola Sturgeon's husband, was also arrested while their home was searched. He was later released without charge. |
| On Saturday the NEC also approved proposals for the appointment of a new chief executive through an "open and transparent" external recruitment process. | |
| Prior to the NEC meeting, one committee member had suggested he might resign unless "forensic auditors" were appointed to examine the party's finances | Prior to the NEC meeting, one committee member had suggested he might resign unless "forensic auditors" were 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 as part of their investigation. | Police carried out a search of the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh last week as part of their investigation. |
| On Saturday Mr Yousaf dismissed speculation that the SNP could be facing bankruptcy. He replied: "It's not. The party is solvent." | |
| 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 was in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency on Saturday, where there is the prospect of a by-election. | |
| Margaret 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 after testing positive for Covid-19. She now sits as an independent. | Margaret 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 after testing positive for Covid-19. She now sits as an independent. |
| 'Decisive action' | |
| 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. |
| Mr Yousaf told the BBC the party took "decisive action" against Margaret Ferrier at the time, which he supported. | |
| He added: "We want there to be a by-election. We will support the recall petition. | |
| "We have got a really strong track record, not just what we have delivered for this constituency but what we have delivered for the people of Scotland." | |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| SNP (Scottish National Party) | SNP (Scottish National Party) |
| Humza Yousaf | Humza Yousaf |