Scottish independence referendum campaigners' donations published
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Version 0 of 1. The pro-union campaign has taken more than double the donations received by the campaign for Scottish independence, according to the Electoral Commission's first report on monies received by registered campaigners in September's referendum. In today's report, which covers donations over £7,500 made between December 2013 and June, the designated lead campaigner for the no side Better Together declared just over £2.4 million, compared with £1.16 million from Yes Scotland, designated lead for the independence campaign. Both camps traded insults following the publication, with Yes Scotland accusing the no side of being largely funded by bankers and wealthy Tories, many of whom live outside Scotland. Better Together repeated claims that its rival is running front organisations to get around funding regulations. Both sides benefited from substantial donations from a few named individuals. £1.2million of the yes campaign's total was donated by three people, with Euromillions lottery winners Chris and Colin Weir giving £500,000 each to Yes Scotland, and Stagecoach boss Sir Brian Souter splitting £200,000 between other registered campaigners Christians for Independence and Business for Scotland. £1.2million of the no campaign's total was donated by two individuals, with JK Rowling donating the sum of £1million and crime writer CJ Samson donating a total of £200,000, both to Better Together. Better Together's tally also includes significant donations from Tory backers and senior financiers. It received £100,000 from stockbroker Andrew Fraser, who has given £1m to the Tories and was head of equities at Barings merchant bank before its collapse; £50,000 from Ivor Dunbar, former co-head of Global Capital Markets at Deutsche Bank; and £30, 000 from Britain's 11th richest man Bruno Schroder, who owns a 16,500-acre estate on the island of Islay. The no side's total includes £75,000 from the No Borders campaign, founded by Greenock-born millionaire Malcolm Offord, who has previously donated £100,000 to the Tories. Better Together's campaign director, Blair McDougall said that, in addition to these larger sums, thousands of smaller donation pushed their total to over £4 million during the period. We are humbled by the level of financial support that our campaign has been able to attract. The figures released today do not paint the full picture of the generosity of the thousands of Scots who have made a contribution towards keeping Scotland in the UK. He added: “What these figures tell us is that the nationalists simply don’t have a broad base of support.” He also called on the Electoral Commission to investigate possible breaches of funding regulations. What is clear from these figures, however, is that the Yes campaign is continuing to do whatever it can to funnel cash to front organisations. Nobody can credibly believe that Yes Scotland and Business for Scotland do not meet the legal definition of ‘working together’. All the signs are that the nationalists intend to break the Electoral Commission rules on spending and working to a common plan.” However, a spokesperson for the Electoral Commission appeared to dismiss this, saying that campaigners working together is not breaking any regulations. Electoral Commission rules state that spending by an organisation working with an umbrella campaign group must come off the £1.5m spending total for that group. The rules around campaigning at the referendum are clearly set out in law. The Electoral Commission works closely with all registered campaigners, including both designated lead campaigners, to ensure they comply with the rules and actively monitor their activities. Campaigners working together is not contrary to the rules. Where campaigners work together to a common plan this has an impact on the total amount of money they can spend. We will continue to closely monitor the activities of both campaigns and will take action if we think the rules may be broken at any time, including before polling day.” Blair Jenkins, chief executive of Yes Scotland, said: The response from our massive grassroots support, from the Northern Isles to the Borders, has been overwhelming in its generosity...We still have a long way to go and hope that our supporters continue to help fund us to take the campaign over the finishing line with a resounding Yes vote on September 18." Responding to Better Together's allegations of regulatory breaches, he added: Yes Scotland has followed the Electoral Commission rules from day one and continue to do so. This is a bit rich coming from a movement that is funded largely by wealthy landowners, bankers and rich Tories many of whom live outwith Scotland and don't have a vote in the referendum.” |