BRIEFINGS suggesting Douglas Chapman wasn’t given the full details about the SNP’s finances over fears he would defect to Alba have been described as a “smear”.
A report in The Times following on from Chapman’s resignation on Saturday evening from the role of national treasurer said key information is not being shared within the party amid paranoia about leaks and disloyalty.
Chapman, the Dunfermline and West Fife MP, quit saying he was unable to carry out his duties properly because of a lack of transparency from party headquarters.
His claims were denied by senior figures but they follow the resignation of three members of the SNP’s finance and audit committee over similar concerns.
Chris McEleny, a former SNP councillor and deputy leader candidate, who is now the general secretary of Alba, said Chapman had not at any time approached the new party about joining.
READ MORE: Douglas Chapman steps down as SNP treasurer citing lack of 'financial information'
He added that Chapman had been calling for greater transparency over the SNP’s finances since November when he stood for election to the role of national secretary and when Alba didn’t exist. “It’s sad when someone like Douglas acts out of a duty of candour he is smeared by people who won’t even give their names,” McEleny (below) said.
“Douglas would have been very welcome to join the Alba Party but he never showed any inclination that he was going to do that. He was concentrating on the mandate he had and on his job as an MP.
“Alba didn’t even exist when Douglas got elected as the SNP’s national treasurer in November on the promise of bringing more transparency to the party’s finances. It is an unfortunate smear which a decent man doesn’t deserve.”
Chapman tweeted on Saturday: “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.”
There was speculation Chapman would defect to Alba, but he ruled it out. Two of the three members who resigned from the SNP’s finance and audit committee did switch to Alba.
READ MORE: Joanna Cherry MP resigns from SNP National Executive Committee
“There are people who think things aren’t being shared with them and then there are people who won’t share things because they are terrified that they will get leaked,” one senior source told The Times.
Kirsten Oswald, the SNP business convener, said she “fundamentally disagrees” with Chapman’s assessment of the financial information that was available to him.
Separately, detectives are considering an allegation of fraud surrounding £600,000 raised for independence campaigning. Last month it was reported Police Scotland found “no immediate evidence of fraud”. The SNP said the allegations were part of a “dirty tricks campaign” and “utterly baseless”.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “The complaint is still being assessed to determine if an investigation is required.”
Chapman was approached for comment.
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