THE SNP have “nothing to fear” from a full independent review of all Scottish party finances, the First Minister has said, as he warned Labour to be “careful what you wish for”.
It comes after Scottish Labour attempted to force an inquiry into the SNP in the wake of former chief executive Peter Murrell embezzling £400,000 from the party.
However, it was voted down by MSPs on Wednesday, who instead supported a Green motion saying that “to avoid this becoming a nakedly partisan process, it should be independently led rather than conducted by parliamentary committee, and that its remit must apply to the funding of all political parties”.
Welcoming the vote, John Swinney said: “Tonight MSPs have agreed there must be a fully independent review into the funding of all political parties. Labour tried to exploit the fact that the SNP has been a victim of a crime for their own political advantage, but their cynical stunt has boomeranged spectacularly.
“The SNP has nothing to fear from a properly independent review. Under my leadership, I have made sure that the SNP’s house is in order – our spectacular election victory last month could not have been possible without us winning the trust not only of our dedicated members, but more fundamentally with the people of Scotland.
“After constantly accusing the SNP of secrecy, Labour now find themselves in the farcical position of failing to vote with the SNP for a properly independent review of the funding of all political parties. They are clearly terrified of holding themselves to the same standard as they hold others, and people will rightly be asking what it is that they have to hide.”
He added: “Labour still clearly haven’t learned anything from their crushing defeat in last month’s election, but here’s one lesson they can take away from tonight’s defeat in Parliament – be careful what you wish for.”
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar claimed that by supporting an inquiry into every political party, the Greens and SNP were involved in a “cover up”.
"Faced with the opportunity to have an inquiry into one of the greatest scandals in Scottish political history, the SNP and the Greens have teamed up to deny Scots answers,” Sarwar said.
“They have shamefully teamed up to continue the very culture that enabled Murrell to commit his crimes. If they have nothing to hide then why are they so scared of transparency?”
Scottish Greens co-leader Ross Greer, meanwhile, said: “I am glad that Parliament supported our call for an independent investigation into party political finances.
“At a time when billionaires and bad faith actors are trying to buy political influence and corrupt our politics, it is important that every political party is held to high standards of financial transparency.
“Westminster has refused to act because the major parties there are bankrolled by the super rich. That’s why our proposals include a call for the power to regulate political parties in Scotland to be transferred to the Scottish Parliament.
“The UK Government should make that transfer immediately. This would allow MSPs to deliver on any outcomes of the independent review which would require changes to the law.”
The motion which MSPs passed called for “the devolution of power over the regulation of political parties and their funding to allow for the implementation of any recommendations of the independent review that would require legislative change”.
Greer (above) went on: “The cheap and opportunistic politics from Labour and the Tories would have seen taxpayers’ money wasted on a parliamentary inquiry into the SNP. I’m glad that MSPs rejected that and voted instead for the Scottish Greens’ proposal for an independent review covering all political parties.
“It is not the job of politicians to mark our own homework, that must be done independently and fairly.
“Time and again Westminster has refused to improve political transparency across the UK. In Scotland we can now do our bit to restore public trust, starting with this wide-ranging review.”
