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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Libby Brooks Scotland correspondent

Natalie McGarry faces second police investigation after SNP complaint

Natalie McGarry
Natalie McGarry denied any wrongdoing after a previous complaint about the finances of Women for Independence. Photograph: Danny Lawson/PA

The Glasgow East MP Natalie McGarry is facing a second police inquiry after the SNP regional association of which she was formerly convenor made a complaint about alleged financial discrepancies.

Police Scotland confirmed it had received and was now investigating a report from the SNP’s Glasgow regional association regarding missing funds from the association’s accounts.

But a spokesperson for McGarry said: “Police Scotland have not been in contact with Ms McGarry in relation to recent media reports. Ms McGarry is clear that no wrongdoing has been committed on her part and she will fully cooperate with Police Scotland in their inquiries.”

McGarry withdrew from the SNP whip last November after she was linked to an allegation that tens of thousands of pounds in donations may be missing from Women for Independence, the campaign group she helped found. Police Scotland’s inquiries into this allegation remain ongoing. McGarry denies any wrongdoing.

McGarry has continued to attract controversy since her resignation. In May, she admitted she had made a “serious mistake” when she accused a pro-union campaigner of being an “outed Holocaust denier” on social media. Alastair Cameron, director of the campaign group Scotland in Union, accepted McGarry’s apology, and agreed legal costs and a charitable donation, after the Glasgow East MP settled legal proceedings out of court.

In January McGarry prompted another Twitter row after she accused JK Rowling of bullying, causing the Harry Potter author to threaten legal proceedings.

An SNP spokesperson said: “It would be inappropriate to comment while these matters are being considered.”

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