LABOUR’S only Scottish MP has demanded answers over the SNP’s finances – claiming their accounting “chaos” risked putting jobs on the line.
Ian Murray has written to Stephen Flynn, the party’s leader in Westminster, the Independent Parliamentary Standards Authority and the Leader of the House of Commons to demand clarity on the SNP’s finances after it emerged they were facing a tight deadline to deliver audited accounts, which they are currently unable to do.
Accountants Johnston Carmichael quit as the SNP’s auditors in September and the party have since been unable to find a replacement – despite a looming May 31 deadline to provide audited accounts.
In his letter to Flynn, the shadow Scottish secretary asked if there were protections in place for SNP staff working for the Westminster group should public funds be pulled from the party’s coffers.
The SNP, like all parties, receives cash - so-called short money - from the public purse to help cover running costs.
At the most recent pay-out, the SNP received £1.2m from the short money fund, including travel costs.
Flynn was also asked when he first became aware the SNP group at Westminster did not have an auditor, whether he has spoken with the former auditors, and if the SNP will file its accounts on time this year.
A spokesperson for the SNP Westminster group said: "The SNP Westminster parliamentary group is in the process of appointing auditors and we expect to have our accounts signed off, in the usual way, as they are every year.
"As is always the case, we are in regular contact with the House authorities, including over the annual audit process."
In a statement, Murray said: “The chaos engulfing the SNP’s finances is now putting jobs at risk and threatening the functioning of their already fragmented parliamentary group.
“The people of Scotland face being denied the parliamentary voice that they voted for due to the financial incompetence of the SNP.
“We need to know today what Stephen Flynn is planning to do to end the chaos that he has inherited.
“It is vital, in the interests of transparency – something that is becoming increasingly clear the SNP knows little about – that these questions are answered in full and without delay.”
