Humza Yusuf, the new First Minister, confirmed that the AMS accounting team will audit the SNP accounts. Photo: Jeff J. Mitchell. /Getty Images Europe
SNP is facing a race against time to confirm its financial statements on time to meet key deadlines after it finally appointed new auditors after a desperate search.
Sources said in Wednesday that the party signed an agreement with the new firm more than six months after the previous firm closed and now hopes to file on time.
The party has struggled to find a firm willing to verify and sign its accounts following the arrest of Peter Murrell, Nicola Sturgeon's husband and former SNP chief executive and former party treasurer Colin Beatty.
The Westminster Group faces loss of 1 £.2 million in public funding if it does not submit audited accounts by the end of this month. The central party must file reports by July or face heavy fines and auditors.
A source told the BBC that Humza Yusuf and Stephen Flynn, party leader in Westminster, and their staff «made some changes to fix the situation they inherited.»
The source added: «They managed to turn things around in a matter of weeks, and now both the party and the Westminster Group have auditors.”
Johnston Carmichael, the previous auditor, resigned last September. He declined to give reasons for his departure from the party he was associated with for over a decade.
It was revealed last week that Sue Ruddick, acting chief executive of the SNP, resorted to sending speculative generic emails to financial companies in an attempt to find new auditors.
The Election Commission was preparing behind the scenes. introduce auditors to the SNP, a step never taken before.
SNP sources said the party now hopes to meet the deadline, but made no categorical guarantees.
Experts said there were several features in the party's previous reports that raised eyebrows, including how the luxury motorhome seized from the home of Mr. Murrell's elderly mother was recorded.
The car appears to have been recorded by. as «office/computer equipment» in the 2021 batch accounts. Experts said reports suggest the party was in dire financial straits even before the exodus of the 30,000 members on whom it mainly depends for income.
Both Mr. Murrell and Mr. Beatty, who were named party billing officials, were released without charge pending further investigation. The third person mentioned in the reports was Ms. Sturgeon, who announced her resignation as first minister and leader of the SNP in February. She denies that the police investigation had anything to do with her resignation.
The Scottish Conservatives on Wednesday will press for a statement about the riots engulfing the SNP, saying it's «in the public interest».< /p>
Led by Douglas Ross, the Tories will use the time of the Holyrood debate to bring clarity to the financial situation inside the ruling party.
“The issues are here to stay”
Speaking before the debate, Mr. Ross said: “These issues are not going away for the SNP's first minister and leader, who recently had to take over as acting SNP treasurer.
“He can't stick his fingers in his ears and say it doesn't matter. for his government as well as his party, especially if the SNP faces bankruptcy or an imminent threat to their viability.
“It is clearly also up to the government if the first minister is compromised, his hands are tied or he has been kept in the dark regarding the affairs of his party, as was the case with the resignation of the auditors of the SNP.
«Right now, he and the SNP government are ignoring the real priorities of Scotland, because they are distracted by a split in the party.»
The firm hired by the SNP is called AMS Accountants. Group is a Manchester based company founded in 1982.
Mr Yusuf said: “I am pleased to confirm that we have used the services of auditors to promote our accounts.
“We are very serious treat our statutory obligations, so it is welcome news that AMS Accountants Group will complete reports for both the party and the Westminster SNP Group.
“Hard work lies ahead, but their participation is very encouraging as we working on a tight deadline.
«I am very grateful to our new party treasurer, Stuart McDonald, for providing the services of auditors.
«I also want to thank our previous auditors, Johnston Carmichael, for their many years of professional work.
MP Stuart McDonald, SNP Treasurer, said: «This announcement represents a significant step forward in the party's governance under Humza Yousaf.
«I am delighted to take on the role of National Treasurer at this important time for the SNP and we will continue to work hard and protect the people of Scotland.»
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