THE SNP are set to lose nearly £1 million as a result of their election defeat – but an MP has insisted the loss will not affect party headquarters.
The SNP were reliant on Westminster short money to pay the wages of MP staff and their result at the 2019 election meant they were entitled to around £1.3m in public funds.
But this has fallen dramatically after Thursday’s poll, which saw the party reduced to just nine seats.
Multiple outlets have reported the party now stands to get just £344,690.27 per year to cover the costs of researchers and other staff based in Westminster.
But speaking on the BBC’s Sunday Show, newly-elected SNP MP Stephen Gethins (below), who returns to the Commons after a five-year absence, said the dramatic cut would not affect operations at HQ.
The party has suffered a drought in major donations in the wake of the police investigation into its finances.
Its only reportable donation this year so far was a bequest from the late Robert Benzies, who left the SNP £127,998.35 in his will.
Speaking to the BBC on Sunday morning, Gethins said: “Remember that that short money doesn’t go directly into headquarters.”
He added: “That’s to support the work of MPs at Westminster and support parties’ policy development work. Obviously, when you lose some resources that’s a hit but there are, I’m afraid to say, fewer MPs and so you need less resource.
“That’s something that I’m not terribly happy about but that was a result of the election. You get the resource you get and you have to make the most of it and that’s something I know my colleagues and I will be doing starting this weekend.”
It was reported late last year that the SNP were diverting money from local branches to HQ in an attempt to shore up capacity at the highest level.
A memo to Westminster candidates sent by party treasurer Stuart McDonald said money set aside for branches would instead be kept by SNP HQ.
One insider told The National at the time: “If the branches drew down what they were owed, the SNP would go bankrupt.”
