JOHN Swinney has admitted that the £600,000 independence fighting fund has been spent, stating that it was “part of the resources available” within the SNP for campaigning.
The First Minister was pressed on where the cash raised through donations specifically for campaigning for Scottish independence had gone by LBC at an event in Glasgow on Wednesday.
Questions over the funds sparked Operation Branchform, the police probe that led to the revelations of Peter Murrell’s £400,000 embezzlement from the SNP.
The SNP have been repeatedly asked to set out where the money was spent. The First Minister has now said it was part of the party’s resources to “support its independence objectives”.
“That money is part of the resources that are available within the Scottish National Party to support its independence objectives, and the SNP is a party of independence, and that's what we campaign for,” Swinney said.
“We just campaigned for Scottish independence at the Scottish Parliament elections.”
Asked if all of the £600,000 raised had been spent, Swinney said: “Well, I'm saying it's part of the ongoing activities of the Scottish National Party, and we're the party that campaigns for independence, and we just fought an election campaign in which we had a very, very strong anchoring of our campaign for independence, so if that's, if that's not the…if that is not the use of the resources, then I am not sure I understand what the resources are for.”
When it was noted that those who donated to the fighting fund were told it would be ringfenced for a second referendum, and some don’t feel as if it was used for that purpose, Swinney said: “What is important is that the SNP resources are used for the purposes for which they are intended, and that is exactly what I want to make sure is the case.”
Pressed again on how many of those donors were not members of the SNP and want to know how their money was used, the First Minister said: “And what I am saying is that the SNP is a party of independence that uses its resources to support the arguments for independence…”
Asked if he could call upon the funds for a future referendum – with Swinney saying in recent months that he would want one to be held in 2028 – the First Minister said: “Well, obviously, I want to make sure that the SNP fights well-funded campaigns to secure Scottish independence, and that's the solemn commitment I give to people.”
The First Minister also insisted his party is safe for whistleblowers despite accusations those who raised concerns about the SNP’s finances were ostracised.
A number of people who raised concerns about the party’s finances, including former MP-turned outspoken SNP leadership critic Joanna Cherry, have said they were “demonised”.
But speaking to the Press Association on Wednesday, Swinney said the party is safe for whistleblowers to come forward.
“Yes, I promised when I became SNP leader I would preside over an open and transparent culture within the SNP, and that affects everything,” he said.
Swinney went on to point to the debate on his party’s independence strategy held at its annual conference last year.
“Nobody was ostracised, nobody was demonised for what they said,” he said.
“People were respected for having different opinions and, actually, those people who had different opinions, I saw them working really hard during the election campaign and I warmly welcome their participation despite their taking different views to the ones I expressed.”
