THE SNP have confirmed they have met a deadline to file the accounts of the party’s Westminster group.
The group appointed new auditors AMS Accountants Group, who are also working on the party’s accounts, after the previous firm quit last September.
First Minister Humza Yousaf said he only discovered Johnston Carmichael were no longer the party’s auditors after 10 years in the wake of winning the SNP leadership contest.
READ MORE: One week left to get our lowest ever price!
The SNP had to meet a deadline of the end of May for the Westminster group accounts, or risk losing out on £1.2 million of “short money” - which is paid to opposition parties to support their work in the Commons.
SNP group treasurer Peter Grant MP said: "I'm pleased to confirm that the annual return for the SNP Westminster Group's 'short money' for 2022/23 has received a clean audit certificate and has been submitted, on time, to the parliamentary authorities.
"Throughout this process, SNP MPs have remained focused on standing up for Scotland and supporting our hard-working staff.
"We will continue to hold the Tories and pro-Brexit Labour to account for the damage their policies are inflicting on Scotland."
READ MORE: SNP: Party warned of five key deadlines to avoid cash issues
Previous accountants Johnston Carmichael stepped back as SNP auditor in October last year after a "review of its client portfolio", but the resignation was only revealed in April.
At the time Yousaf said: “Frankly, it would have been helpful to have known beforehand.
"But equally I know the party has been working to try to get replacement auditors, without success so far.
"My job is to make sure we can get those replacement auditors as soon as I possibly can.”
The next deadline the SNP have to meet is the submission of its national and Westminster accounts to the Electoral Commission by July 7, with failure to do so potentially resulting in a fine.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel