SNP open accounts under scrutiny by police

The SNP released their annual accounts yesterday, amid a police investigation over alleged fraud and the ravages of the Covid pandemic.

It comes as officers investigate complaints about the fate of more than £660,000 raised by the party since 2017 for a second independence referendum.

Following a consultation with prosecutors, the party denied any wrongdoing and said it would “co-operate fully” with the investigation.

Like almost every other enterprise, the pandemic had a severe impact on takings in 2020 and contributed to a drop in member numbers, the party said.

As of the December 31 2020, the party had 105,393 members, a fall from 125,500 in 2019.

This has increased, rising to 119,000 by the end of May following the Holyrood election, with the pandemic and the introduction of Alex Salmond’s Alba Party having some bearing.

Despite a drop in numbers, members raised an extra £182,000 for party coffers, an increase of 8%, with a total of £2,430,100 handed over.

Overall, the party earned £4,427,421 and spent £3,335,384, giving a pre-tax surplus of £1,092,037.

The party has received £667,000 from supporters of independence, for a future campaign. The SNP claims, that as the party for independence, every penny it spends counts as expenditure towards “independence day”.

The pandemic did bring some savings — having spent £833,092 on an in-person conference in 2019, the 2020 virtual event only cost £176,790 — with savings on venue hire, catering, technical support and security.