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SNP's Westminster group submits accounts on time SNP's Westminster group submits accounts on time
(32 minutes later)
The SNP's Westminster group had until midnight on Wednesday to submit its accountsThe SNP's Westminster group had until midnight on Wednesday to submit its accounts
The SNP's Westminster group has filed its audited accounts ahead of a deadline, the party has said.The SNP's Westminster group has filed its audited accounts ahead of a deadline, the party has said.
It had faced losing some of its public funding if the accounts were not submitted by midnight on Wednesday. It had faced losing some of its £1.2m in public funding if the accounts were not submitted by midnight on Wednesday.
Its previous auditors quit last September - but it was only made public last month.Its previous auditors quit last September - but it was only made public last month.
SNP bosses were initially unable to a find a replacement before Manchester-based firm AMS Accounting agreed to take on the job. SNP bosses were initially unable to a find a replacement before Manchester-based firm AMS Accounting agreed to take on the job on 3 May.
First Minister Humza Yousaf said he only found out after winning the contest to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as party leader in March that it no longer had an accounting firm in place. Peter Grant MP, the group's treasurer, confirmed that the annual financial return "has received a clean audit certificate and has been submitted, on time, to the parliamentary authorities".
Westminster group leader Stephen Flynn said he learned in February that the previous accountants had quit. BBC Scotland editor Glenn Campbell said he believed missing the deadline would have seen the party lose the first month of its Short Money funding.
The SNP would have been likely to lose some of the £1.2m it receives in Short Money if its Westminster accounts - which cover spending on behalf of the party's MPs - were not completed on time. Failure to meet subsequent deadlines would have seen the overall pot of cash being reduced further.
SNP appoints new auditors as deadline loomsSNP appoints new auditors as deadline looms
SNP could lose £1.2m if accounts not filed on timeSNP could lose £1.2m if accounts not filed on time
Firm which audits SNP finances has resignedFirm which audits SNP finances has resigned
BBC Scotland editor Glenn Campbell said he believed missing the deadline would have seen the party lose the first month of Short Money funding, with failure to meet subsequent deadline seeing the overall pot of cash being reduced further. Short Money is given to opposition parties at Westminster to help them carry out their parliamentary work.
Short Money is given to opposition parties to help them carry out their parliamentary work. The amount received is based on how many MPs a party has. The amount received is based on how many MPs a party has, with the SNP currently being given about £1.2m every year.
The SNP as a whole now has to file its audited accounts with the Electoral Commission in July, with AMS Accounting also carrying out that work.The SNP as a whole now has to file its audited accounts with the Electoral Commission in July, with AMS Accounting also carrying out that work.
The party had worked with its previous accountants, Johnston Carmichael, for more than a decade.The party had worked with its previous accountants, Johnston Carmichael, for more than a decade.
The company, which describes itself as being Scotland's largest independent firm of chartered accountants, said it had decided to stop auditing the accounts following a review of its clients. The company, which describes itself as being Scotland's largest independent firm of chartered accountants, said it had decided to stop auditing the accounts last autumn following a review of its clients.
The decision was taken amid an ongoing police investigation into the party's finances which saw its former chief executive Peter Murrell - the husband of Nicola Sturgeon - and then-treasurer Colin Beattie arrested. First Minister Humza Yousaf said he only found out after winning the contest to succeed Nicola Sturgeon as party leader in March that it no longer had an accounting firm in place.
Westminster group leader Stephen Flynn said he learned in February that Johnston Carmichael had quit.
Humza Yousaf says he only found out after winning the party leadership that its auditors had quit about seven months earlier
It comes amid an ongoing police investigation into the party's finances which saw its former chief executive Peter Murrell - the husband of Nicola Sturgeon - and then-treasurer Colin Beattie arrested.
Both men were subsequently released without charge pending further investigation.Both men were subsequently released without charge pending further investigation.
Police Scotland launched its Operation Branchform investigation in July 2021 after receiving complaints about how more than £600,000 of donations earmarked for independence campaigning were spent.Police Scotland launched its Operation Branchform investigation in July 2021 after receiving complaints about how more than £600,000 of donations earmarked for independence campaigning were spent.
Officers searched the Glasgow home of Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell, and the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh, as part of the inquiry.Officers searched the Glasgow home of Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell, and the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh, as part of the inquiry.
A luxury motorhome that sells for about £110,000 was also seized from outside the home of Mr Murrell's mother in Dunfermline.A luxury motorhome that sells for about £110,000 was also seized from outside the home of Mr Murrell's mother in Dunfermline.
Related TopicsRelated Topics
House of CommonsHouse of Commons
SNP (Scottish National Party)SNP (Scottish National Party)
Stephen FlynnStephen Flynn
Humza YousafHumza Yousaf