THE SNP have claimed Scottish Labour “don't exist” after it emerged the party is reliant on support from their London bosses to pay for staff.
Scottish Labour’s most recent accounts showed that it paid for no staff last year, with the UK operation meeting employees’ wages.
And a note in the filings, published alongside most other large parties by the Electoral Commission on Thursday, showed that the UK operation had pledged “financial assistance” to the Scottish branch to ensure its viability.
SNP MSP Alex Kerr told The National: “Let’s not beat about the bush here, Scottish Labour don't exist. As we all know, it is funded and staffed by the UK Labour Party.
“That’s who they answer to and that’s why they deny the Scottish people a democratic say over their own future – no Westminster paymaster will allow otherwise.
“No matter who leads the Labour Party in Scotland, for as long as they answer to London Labour and not the Scottish people they will forever be punished at that ballot box – you cannot deny democracy to Scotland and expect the trust of our people.”
A Scottish Labour spokesperson said: “According to the SNP, it lost 35 seats to a non-existent party in the General Election. Alex Kerr should be embarrassed to put his name to this nonsense.”
Last year saw Scottish Labour’s income dwindle from £2.1 million in 2024 to £1.5m.
A note in the accounts said that the Scottish branch had been promised financial support from the UK to keep it a “going concern”.
The accounts said: “In consideration of the available reserves as at December 31, 2025 and the budgeted results for the subsequent accounting period the Labour Party has confirmed that it will provide financial assistance to the Scottish Labour Party as required to allow the Scottish Labour Party to meet its liabilities as they fall due, for a period of at least 12 months from the date of signing of the financial statements.
“Based upon the undertaking of financial support outlined above the treasurer has a reasonable expectation that the party has adequate resources to continue its activities for the foreseeable future. Accordingly, the treasurer has adopted the going concern basis in preparing the financial statements.”
And the same document showed that the party did not pay for any staff last year, despite Anas Sarwar gearing up for an election where he hoped to replace John Swinney as first minister.
The National understands that the Scottish Labour's core staff are always employed at a UK level and additional staff are funded by the Scottish party based on need.
This would account for the fact that the party directly employed four members of staff in 2024, during the General Election where Keir Starmer focused intensely on winning back seats from the SNP.
