Two separate police investigations into political finances have been launched, one concerning the pro-independence campaign group Yes Scotland and another targeting a donation to Conservative leadership contender Robert Jenrick.
The Metropolitan Police is examining a £37,500 donation made to Jenrick’s 2024 campaign to become Conservative leader, after the Electoral Commission referred the case. Under UK law, accepting political donations from foreign sources is illegal. Jenrick has repeatedly denied breaking any electoral laws. Scotland Yard did not say which individuals are under investigation.
“Police probe a £1.5m Yes Scotland complaint and a £37,500 donation to Robert Jenrick.”
The other inquiry follows a complaint by David Henry, who previously raised concerns about SNP finances leading to Operation Branchform and the conviction of former chief executive Peter Murrell. Henry pointed to Yes Scotland’s accounts showing a zero balance from 2016 onward, with £1.5m recorded earlier appearing to have “just gone”, as reported by the Sunday Mail. Yes Scotland Ltd, launched by former SNP leader Alex Salmond for the 2014 independence referendum, has not been active since. The organisation told the Sunday Mail all money is accounted for and there has been no wrongdoing, adding that Murrell had no access to its bank accounts. It later directed BBC Scotland to audited referendum returns available online. Electoral Commission figures show Yes Scotland received donations of more than £2.6m and spent more than £1.4m during the campaign, while the pro-union Better Together campaign received almost £3.7m and spent more than £1.4m. The SNP said Yes Scotland Ltd was an “entirely separate organisation”. Henry was disqualified from acting as a company director for eight years in 2011, which he says related to a civil matter heard in his absence and that he declared to the SNP. A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We have received a complaint and inquiries are ongoing.”
The developments come after Peter Murrell was jailed for more than five years for embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP. Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, Dame Jackie Baillie, said: “These are incredibly serious allegations and it is right that they are considered by the police. There are still far too many unanswered questions surrounding Peter Murrell’s fraudulent activities and the secrecy of the SNP. John Swinney and the SNP need to stop running scared and come clean about these allegations and back a full financial audit of the accounts.” Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay also commented, though his full remarks were not available. With both investigations ongoing, the pressure on political parties over transparency and foreign funding shows no sign of easing.