AN MP in charge of the SNP’s finances has quit – claiming he was not given enough information to do the job.
Douglas Chapman, the MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, announced he had resigned as national treasurer of the party on Twitter on Saturday evening.
Chapman took over in the role last year.
Writing on his Twitter account, the MP said: “Despite having a resounding mandate from members to introduce more transparency into the party’s finances, I have not received the support or financial information to carry out the fiduciary duties of National Treasurer.
“Regretfully I have resigned with immediate effect.”
He said he did not intend to make any further statement on the issue.
I do not intend to make a further statement on this issue. 2/2
— Douglas Chapman MP 🏴 (@DougChapmanSNP) May 29, 2021
SNP business convener and fellow MP Kirsten Oswald said she “fundamentally disagrees” with her colleague’s assessment.
Also on Twitter, she wrote: “I am disappointed by Douglas’s decision and, as business convener, fundamentally disagree with his assessment of the support and financial information available to him.
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“However, I respect his decision, thank him for his contribution to the NEC (National Executive Committee) and wish him well.
“SNP national treasurers have access to detailed financial information and report to the NEC on a monthly basis.
"The NEC can request any additional information it requires.
“The SNP’s accounts are also independently audited, submitted to the Electoral Commission and published.”
My statement following Douglas Chapman's decision to stand down as National Treasurer: pic.twitter.com/6GkMDiD6we
— Kirsten Oswald MP (@kirstenoswald) May 29, 2021
Commenting on Oswald's tweet, National columnist and former SNP MP George Kerevan wrote: "This is outrageous. The SNP rightly attacks the questionable financial practices of Tory ministers yet when the elected SNP Treasurer resigns because he questions the propriety of internal financial management, the Business Convenor does nothing."
He added: "The SNP Treasurer has resigned because he questions the legitimacy of internal financial practices in the party. At the very least this should see an investigation by the Electoral Commission."
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