Former SNP MP charged with fraud
The Glasgow East MP Natalie Mcgarry has been charged with fraud offences.
She had been under investigation by police after a pro-independence group reported a potential financial discrepancy in its accounts. Ms mcgarry had been one of the 56 SNP MPS elected in last year’s general election.
She withdrew from the party whip when the allegations were made last November, and has been sitting as an independent.
The former SNP MP Natalie Mcgarry has been charged in connection with alleged fraud offences involving a five-figure sum. Ms Mcgarry, who has resigned the SNP whip but remains MP for Glasgow East, was a leading figure in the Yes campaign for Scottish independence.
The Scotsman understands that the charges are connected to the finances of the Women for Independence (WFI) organisation, which she helped establish, and the Glasgow regional association of the SNP.
A statement released by Police Scotland said: “On Tuesday September 27 a 35-yearold woman was charged in connection with alleged fraud offences. A report will be sent to the procurator fiscal.”
Ms Mcgarry has always maintained her innocence, ever since it emerged that she was at the centre of a police investigation.
The investigation was launched after a complaint was made to Police Scotland by members of WFI’S national executive committee in November 2015. An internal audit of the group’s finances found discrepancies in the accounts.
Ms Mcgarry withdrew from the SNP whip when the matter was reported to police. She had been elected as the SNP MP for the Glasgow East constituency in May 2015, when Nicola Sturgeon’s party won all but three of the 59 Scottish seats at Westminster.
She was one of many SNP success stories at that election, benefiting from a swing of almost 31 per cent to the SNP to take the notable scalp of Labour’s Margaret Curran, the former shadow Scottish secretary.
By resigning the SNP whip she was automatically suspended from the party.
Therefore she currently sits as an independent MP in the House of Commons.
Women for Independence said on Twitter: “We will be making no public comment on today’s news.”
The SNP declined to comment.
Ms Mcgarry’s solicitor Amar Anwar said yesterday: “I can confirm that Natalie Mcgarry MP attended voluntarily with myself as her solicitor this morning at Govan Police Station. Following an interview, she was charged this afternoon with several alleged offences including embezzlement of funds, breach of trust and an offence under the Scottish Independence Referendum Act 2013. She was released and will now be the subject of a report to the Procurator Fiscal.”