Swinney promises SNP donations will be 'properly spent'

John Swinney made the pledge at the SNP campaign launch on Sunday. Photo: JEFF J MITCHELL/GETTY IMAGES

John Swinney promised that donations to the SNP would be «properly spent» after its former leader was charged with embezzlement of party funds.

The First Minister insisted that «every penny» received from supporters will go towards fighting the election campaign and independence, amid claims that the party is facing a cash crisis ahead of the July elections.

Labor sources say the Scottish National Party (SNP) is a «screenshot» and shows little sign of the large-scale billboards or digital advertising campaigns that have characterized previous national election campaigns.

On the contrary, they claim that local Labor campaigns «bring in more money». what we can spend” after their coffers were replenished by the British central party.

One campaigner told The Telegraph that Labour's campaign was by far the best resourced in Scotland, with the party pouring money into advertising campaigns, direct mail and digital advertising on platforms such as YouTube.

Major living donors for the SNP have dried up, with the party's latest accounts showing a deficit of more than £800,000, a record outside a national election year .< /p>

Peter Murrell, the former SNP leader and husband of Nicola Sturgeon, was charged in April with embezzling SNP funds.

Ms Sturgeon and Colin Beattie, the former treasurer, were previously arrested and released without charge but remain under investigation.

At the event, which critics said was a relaunch of the crisis-hit early campaign, Mr Swinney was asked how supporters could be sure that any donations would be spent properly.

“All I will say to party members and donors is that I will personally assure them that every penny raised for the Scottish National Party will be spent effectively and appropriately on the Scottish National Party's election campaign and on winning independence.» , Mr. Swinney said.

SNP MSPs have been asked to provide spare rooms to London staff who will be based in Scotland for the campaign, in an apparent attempt to save on hotel bills.< /p>

The party now relies mainly on taxpayer funds from Westminster and activist fees, although membership numbers have fallen from around 104,000 in 2021 to around 70,000.

In its latest published accounts, the SNP reported an annual loss of £804,278.

The party still owes Mr Murrell £60,000 from a £107,620 loan he provided in June 2021, which the SNP said was to help with «cash flow» problems following the last Holyrood election.

Mr Murrell has not commented on the police investigation. Mr Beattie declined to comment and Ms Sturgeon categorically denies any wrongdoing.