Arabic version: الشرطة تحقق في الأموال المفقودة في حملة نعم اسكتلندا

Police are making inquiries after a complaint was made about the finances of Yes Scotland, the group which campaigned for independence in the 2014 referendum. According to BBC News, claims have surfaced that income of more than £1.5 million was unaccounted for.

The allegations were brought to light by David Henry, who was one of those whose concerns about the SNP’s finances led to the Operation Branchform investigation and the eventual conviction of former chief executive Peter Murrell. Yes Scotland Ltd, a company which was set up by former SNP leader and First Minister Alex Salmond to campaign for independence ahead of the referendum, has not been active since 2014, with its latest set of dormant accounts published last year showing a zero balance.

Henry expressed concerns that the campaign company’s accounts from 2016 onward showed a zero balance while earlier records indicated £1.5 million that appeared to have “just gone”. A spokesperson for Police Scotland confirmed that inquiries are ongoing following the complaint.

These allegations arise in the wake of Murrell’s recent five-year prison sentence for embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP. Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, Dame Jackie Baillie, emphasized the seriousness of these claims, calling for a thorough police investigation. Similarly, Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay criticized the SNP’s handling of the situation, stating that the party’s culture contributed to Murrell’s actions.

An SNP spokesperson responded by asserting that the party was a victim of Murrell’s criminal activities, which were uncovered through a complex and extensive police investigation.