Former SNP MP Natalie Mcgarry appears in court charged with fraud

A former MP has appeared in court on six charges including fraud.

Natalie Mcgarry, who won the Glasgow East seat in the 2015 general election but did not seek re-election in 2017, appeared in private at the city’s sheriff court.

She is charged with three counts of embezzlement, two charges under the Scottish Independence Referendum Act 2013 and one charge under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000.

The charges under the referendum act relate to “knowingly or recklessly making a false declaration” regarding referendumexpensesandallegedly failing to comply with requirements regarding referendum expenses.

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act charge involves allegedly knowingly failing to comply with a notice regarding disclosure of protected information.

Mcgarry, 36, who appeared under her married name Meikle, made no plea and was bailed pending a further court appearance.

She was elected as an SNP member in 2015 but resigned the party whip following the emergence of fraud allegations which she denied at the time, continuing as an independent MP.

She was charged in 2017 over alleged fraud relating to potential missing funds from the group Women For Independence and the SNP’S Glasgow Regional Association.