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| Leaked video shows Sturgeon dismiss finance concern | Leaked video shows Sturgeon dismiss finance concern |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Nicola Sturgeon told the NEC the party's finances had "never been stronger" | Nicola Sturgeon told the NEC the party's finances had "never been stronger" |
| Nicola Sturgeon told the NEC the party's finances had "never been stronger" | Nicola Sturgeon told the NEC the party's finances had "never been stronger" |
| A leaked video has emerged apparently showing former SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon playing down worries about the party's finances. | A leaked video has emerged apparently showing former SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon playing down worries about the party's finances. |
| The footage, published by the Sunday Mail, is said to be from a virtual meeting of the party's ruling body, recorded in March 2021. | The footage, published by the Sunday Mail, is said to be from a virtual meeting of the party's ruling body, recorded in March 2021. |
| Ms Sturgeon told National Executive Committee (NEC) members the party's finances had never been stronger. | Ms Sturgeon told National Executive Committee (NEC) members the party's finances had never been stronger. |
| She also warned of the impact on donors of going public with concerns. | She also warned of the impact on donors of going public with concerns. |
| SNP says finances are balanced after crisis reports | SNP says finances are balanced after crisis reports |
| SNP ruling body orders transparency review | SNP ruling body orders transparency review |
| Sturgeon's husband arrested in SNP finance probe | Sturgeon's husband arrested in SNP finance probe |
| In the two-minute clip Ms Sturgeon said she had been on the NEC continuously for 20 years, including times when the party had been "frankly teetering on the edge of bankruptcy". | In the two-minute clip Ms Sturgeon said she had been on the NEC continuously for 20 years, including times when the party had been "frankly teetering on the edge of bankruptcy". |
| She added: "The party has never been in a stronger financial position than it is right now and that's a reflection of our strength and our membership. So, just a bit of context for us all to remember." | She added: "The party has never been in a stronger financial position than it is right now and that's a reflection of our strength and our membership. So, just a bit of context for us all to remember." |
| Ms Sturgeon, who appears to have been recorded without her knowledge, also issued a direct appeal to those attending the virtual meeting. | Ms Sturgeon, who appears to have been recorded without her knowledge, also issued a direct appeal to those attending the virtual meeting. |
| She added: "Just be very careful about suggestions that there are problems with the party's finances because we depend on donors to donate. | She added: "Just be very careful about suggestions that there are problems with the party's finances because we depend on donors to donate. |
| "There are no reasons for people to be concerned about the party's finances and all of us need to be careful about not suggesting that there is." | "There are no reasons for people to be concerned about the party's finances and all of us need to be careful about not suggesting that there is." |
| The ex-SNP leader also urged members not to leak any details from the meeting because that would limit "the ability for open, free and frank discussion". | The ex-SNP leader also urged members not to leak any details from the meeting because that would limit "the ability for open, free and frank discussion". |
| The SNP NEC meeting held on 20 March 2021 took place against a backdrop of growing internal dissent about transparency. | The SNP NEC meeting held on 20 March 2021 took place against a backdrop of growing internal dissent about transparency. |
| According to the Sunday Mail, three senior officials - Edinburgh Lord Provost Frank Ross, Allison Graham and Cynthia Guthrie - had just revealed to the NEC their intention to resign from the party's finance and audit committee after being denied sight of the accounts. | According to the Sunday Mail, three senior officials - Edinburgh Lord Provost Frank Ross, Allison Graham and Cynthia Guthrie - had just revealed to the NEC their intention to resign from the party's finance and audit committee after being denied sight of the accounts. |
| In May that year, two NEC members - SNP national treasurer Douglas Chapman and MP Joanna Cherry - resigned from the ruling body, citing concerns about transparency. | In May that year, two NEC members - SNP national treasurer Douglas Chapman and MP Joanna Cherry - resigned from the ruling body, citing concerns about transparency. |
| Call for Sturgeon suspension | |
| Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said the timing of Ms Sturgeon's claims - months before police launched an investigation into SNP finances - was "frankly astonishing". | Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said the timing of Ms Sturgeon's claims - months before police launched an investigation into SNP finances - was "frankly astonishing". |
| He said: "The shocking lack of transparency among the toxic clique at the top of the SNP is what has got the party in its current mess. | He said: "The shocking lack of transparency among the toxic clique at the top of the SNP is what has got the party in its current mess. |
| "If Humza Yousaf wants to show he's determined to tackle the crisis within the SNP, he should suspend the party membership of Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell." | "If Humza Yousaf wants to show he's determined to tackle the crisis within the SNP, he should suspend the party membership of Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell." |
| Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said the "terminal SNP soap opera" meant that peoples' priorities such as health and education were "playing second fiddle". | Scottish Liberal Democrat leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said the "terminal SNP soap opera" meant that peoples' priorities such as health and education were "playing second fiddle". |
| He added: "The antics inside the SNP high command put some of the worst excesses of Tory sleaze in the shade." | He added: "The antics inside the SNP high command put some of the worst excesses of Tory sleaze in the shade." |
| Earlier this month police searched the home Peter Murrell shares with Nicola Sturgeon | Earlier this month police searched the home Peter Murrell shares with Nicola Sturgeon |
| The March 2021 NEC meeting took place just a few days before the first complaint was made to police about the SNP's finances. | The March 2021 NEC meeting took place just a few days before the first complaint was made to police about the SNP's finances. |
| A pro-independence activist is said to have raised concern that nearly £667,000 of funds raised for a future independence campaign may have been used for other purposes. | A pro-independence activist is said to have raised concern that nearly £667,000 of funds raised for a future independence campaign may have been used for other purposes. |
| In June of that year, the party's former chief executive Peter Murrell - who is married to Ms Sturgeon - loaned the party £107,620 to help it out with "cash flow" problems. | In June of that year, the party's former chief executive Peter Murrell - who is married to Ms Sturgeon - loaned the party £107,620 to help it out with "cash flow" problems. |
| The following month Police Scotland began a formal investigation into the party's finances, named Operation Branchform. | The following month Police Scotland began a formal investigation into the party's finances, named Operation Branchform. |
| The police inquiry resulted in the arrest of Mr Murrell earlier this month as well as a search of the SNP's Edinburgh offices and the confiscation of a £100,000 motorhome, reported to have been purchased as a campaign bus ahead of the May 2021 election. | The police inquiry resulted in the arrest of Mr Murrell earlier this month as well as a search of the SNP's Edinburgh offices and the confiscation of a £100,000 motorhome, reported to have been purchased as a campaign bus ahead of the May 2021 election. |
| Mr Murrell was later released without charge pending further investigation. | Mr Murrell was later released without charge pending further investigation. |
| The BBC has been unable to contact Ms Sturgeon directly for comment. | The BBC has been unable to contact Ms Sturgeon directly for comment. |
| A spokesperson for the SNP said: "Yesterday, the SNP National Executive Committee agreed to a series of proposals to increase transparency in the SNP. It is the case that the SNP accounts are published annually and are in order." | A spokesperson for the SNP said: "Yesterday, the SNP National Executive Committee agreed to a series of proposals to increase transparency in the SNP. It is the case that the SNP accounts are published annually and are in order." |
| Related Topics | Related Topics |
| Nicola Sturgeon | Nicola Sturgeon |
| SNP (Scottish National Party) | SNP (Scottish National Party) |