Sean Clerkin has asked the police to re-investigate his original complaint with a focus on the sum of money that was raised by supporters of independence for a future second referendum campaign.
Mr Clerkin made the report today at Helen Street police station alleging misappropriation of funds.
Sean Clerkin (Image: Newsquest)
He has asked for an investigation following remarks made by John Swinney, SNP leader and First Minister, which suggested the cash has been used by the SNP despite no referendum ever taking place.
John Swinney said the money is “Part of the resources that are available within the Scottish National Party to support its independence objectives.
“The SNP is the party of independence and that’s what we campaign on. We’ve just campaigned for independence at the Scottish Parliament elections.”
John Swinney (Image: Newsquest)
Asked by a radio reporter, if all the money raised was used, he said: “I’m saying, it’s part of the ongoing activities of the Scottish National Party. We’re the party that campaigns for independence, we’ve just fought an election where our campaign had a very strong anchoring for independence.
“If that’s not the use of resources, I’m not sure I understand what the resources are for.”
When it as suggested that people though it was to be ring fenced for a referendum campaign, Swinney added: “What’s important is the SNP resources are used for the purposes they are intended.”
The money raised by supporters was to be “only be used for the specific purpose of a referendum campaign”.
No referendum campaign took place, however, leaving people asking where has the money gone.
Mr Clerkin said. “I am calling for the reinvestigation of the original complaint asking what happened to the original £600,000. I think there has been a misappropriation of funds.
“The money raised to fight a referendum campaign was used by the SNP for other purposes.”
He suggested it may have been used to pay back loans and for the 2019 General Election campaign.
Mr Clerkin said following the remarks by the First Minister: “John Swinney should resign”.
Opposition parties have said there are more questions to be answered over the donations.
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said: “John Swinney’s confession that the SNP spent ‘ringfenced’ referendum money on other things is damning.
“SNP members are still being hoodwinked about how Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon enabled Peter Murrell’s 12-year-long theft of their cash by shutting down scrutiny.
“Swinney’s small-town bank manager routine just won’t cut it for those whose hard-earned cash was either stolen by Sturgeon’s husband or mis-spent by the SNP.
“This surely destroys any residual trust in this shady political party whose tactics of dishonesty, intolerance and omerta increasingly resemble that of an organised crime group.”
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “After spending the past week angrily shouting at opposition politicians and journalists, John Swinney has finally admitted that the SNP have defrauded their members again.
“SNP members and supporters donated their hard-earned money believing it would be used for a future referendum campaign. John Swinney has now admitted that it became part of the SNP’s general resources.
“People will rightly ask whether they were misled. They will rightly ask why the SNP continues to resist scrutiny. And they will rightly ask why John Swinney is so desperate to avoid a full inquiry.
“Up to one million pounds may now have been stolen from SNP members – they and the public deserve answers about this criminal enterprise masquerading as a political party.
“John Swinney has been at the heart of this scandal-ridden party for decades. No amount of evasion or bluster can hide the fact that serious questions remain unanswered.”
A spokesperson for the SNP said: “These were the issues which were fully explored during the course of the forensic police investigation.
“In the course of those inquiries, the police uncovered that the SNP had been the victim of embezzlement by its former chief executive. No action was taken against the SNP.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We are aware that an individual wishes to make a complaint and officers from the economic crime unit will make contact to assess their information.”
