SNP MP Stuart McDonald appointed as Party Treasurer Photo: UNPIXS/UNPIXS
SNP MP Stuart McDonald appointed as Party Treasurer following member's resignation MP Colin Beatty.
Mr. Beatty resigned after being arrested and released without charge pending further investigation into the party's finances.
Former party chief Executive Peter Murrell, who is married to former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, was also arrested and questioned before being released without charge.
Police investigation focuses on how more than £600,000 in the form of party donations were intended for the independence referendum was used.
The National Executive Committee of the SNP (NEC) confirmed the appointment of a former lawyer, Mr Macdonald, who represents Cumbernald, Kilsyth and Kirkintilloch at Westminster.
Colin Beatty resigned after being arrested and released without charge pending further investigation into the party's financial affairs. Photo: Ken Jack /Corbis News
The 44-year-old said: “While this is a difficult and challenging time, I look forward to continuing the work of National Treasurer to help advance the important work that our new party leader, Humza Yousaf, is leading to improve governance and SNP transparency.
"I will not hesitate to step forward when asked to do my part to keep our party firmly on the foundations of the campaign as the case for Scottish independence becomes stronger than ever."
A key task for the new treasurer will be to appoint auditors after accountant Johnston Carmichael, who has worked with the SNP for more than a decade, resigned last year.
Party reports are due to be submitted to the Electoral Commission in July .
Mr. McDonald has held several positions with the party in Westminster and is currently a party judge and immigration officer. spokesman.
Mr Beatty, who was Treasurer from 2004 to 2020 and then again from 2021, has also resigned his position on Holyrood's State Audit Committee until the police complete their investigation.< /p> < img src="/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/3ebf60d378f047159a8131e7aa58f03c.jpg" />Peter Murrell, married to Nicola Sturgeon, was also arrested and questioned before being released without charge. Photo: Scott Heppell/AP
On Thursday, Beatty, 71, said it was not easy, but it was the right decision not to be distracted by Humza Yousaf's important work to improve the governance and transparency of the SNP.
"I will continue to cooperate fully with Police Scotland in the investigation and it would be inappropriate for me to make any further comment on the live case.»
Scottish Labor deputy leader Jackie Bailey said: «Stuart Macdonald is facing an uphill battle dealing with the SNP high command who clearly don't think the rules apply to them.»
"Despite this ongoing the SNP crisis showed no willingness to change. He failed to remove high-profile individuals involved in the police investigation, and his culture of cover-up and secrecy is still at its peak.
"This arrogant and despicable party needs to start acting with the necessary transparency and consistency, but I will not hold my breath"
Unanswered questions
Scottish Tory Chairman Craig Hoy said: «SNP finance scandal with is getting more venomous by the day and the appointment of a new SNP treasurer is unlikely to reassure the Scottish public when so many pressing questions remain unanswered.» /p>
"Stuart McDonald promised to improve 'governance and transparency of the SNP' he should start by getting to the bottom of this dark saga.
"He should urgently find out if SNP is in danger of winding down due to financial problems, if they can find replacement auditors before the expiration of annual reports and whether Peter Murrell's suspension is linked to the party still owes him £60,000.
"The public is tired of SNP secrecy. The new SNP treasurer must urgently put an end to this slippery tactic if the public is to regain any faith in the government party."
Свежие комментарии