Quick Questions For Colin
TO: Colin Beattie MSP, National Treasurer, SNP
DATE: 28 October 2020
Dear Colin,
I note that today you’ve sent an email to SNP members on the contentious topic of the party’s supposedly “ring-fenced” referendum campaign fund, which we’ve learned for the first time today has a grand official name – the Referendum Appeal Fund (which from here on we’ll call the RAF for short).
The email also contains some rather offensive implied smears about my website and myself, but I’m quite used to being abused on the internet so I’ll let that slide. As we’re both on the side of Scottish independence, rather than getting involved in a tit-for-tat slanging match I thought I’d try to reach a constructive consensus.
I notice that in your email you invite people who have “any questions” on the subject to contact you without hesitation, and while I’m not a member of the party I believe I do speak for a considerable number of people who are, so it would likely also save you a lot of tedious copy-and-pasting if you replied publicly to me as their representative.
(And because, y’know, if you don’t then you’ll probably get about a thousand individual emails from members containing the text below anyway, which doesn’t seem like a productive use of anyone’s time.)
My first question is a simple one, and if the proposal it contains is adopted it would render all the others moot and draw the matter to an immediate and highly satisfactory conclusion, so I hope this will only take a minute.
——————————–
(1) The SNP currently owns the old Yes Scotland brand, website and company, which is still live. It appears to be controlled by the party solicitor Scott Martin.
To avoid any future confusion, why doesn’t the SNP simply transfer the entire RAF to the account of Yes Scotland, and divert any future donations through the yes.scot website to the company’s account rather than the SNP’s?
This would provide a visible separation between referendum funds and SNP political funds. Anyone whose primary interest was independence could donate money to Yes Scotland through the yes.scot site for that purpose, while anyone chiefly motivated by Queer Theory, thoughtcrime, stopping people from getting two-for-one pizzas and imprisoning former First Ministers for crimes they didn’t commit could donate to the SNP through its own existing donations page, located here.
There would be no reason for any noticeable admin costs – Yes Scotland would have only one source of income (donations), no outgoings (until such times as the imminent second referendum, naturally), and Mr Martin’s only task would be to file a simple short statement of its account balance every year, which he has to do now anyway. It seems an obvious, elegant and complete solution.
——————————–
Should the above proposal be inexplicably rejected, the following questions arise:
(2) If the RAF is indeed ring-fenced and available for use “at a moment’s notice”, why does the SNP not simply denote it as such in the accounts and avoid all this confusion and bad feeling, as suggested today by senior SNP councillor Chris McEleny?
(3) Why, for that matter, does it not publish it as a live running total on the yes.scot site, as it did with the 2017 ref.scot fundraiser? Is there a reason it should be secret? Surely it would boost the morale of the entire Yes movement to know beyond any doubt that it had a healthy fighting fund ready for instant deployment.
(4) How did the money in the RAF come to be “woven through” the accounts in various unexplained places, given that it all comes from only two sources – the 2017 ref.scot fundraiser and the 2019-present day yes.scot one – and the SNP apparently knows to the exact pound how much is in it? Why would all of those funds not be recorded under the same category?
(5) The yes.scot website used to state that all donations would be used to produce a book called “An Independent Scotland: Household Guide”, to be distributed to every household in Scotland. It now contains simply a generic statement that donations will be used to provide “Yes campaigners” with “materials”.
Are all donations through yes.scot still being directed to the RAF? If so, which area of the SNP’s accounts would they be included under? Donations? Prepayments? Some other? If they’re NOT being directed to the RAF, on what date did this change?
(6) What was the balance of the RAF on 31 December 2017, 31 December 2018 and 31 December 2019?
(7) The SNP’s total net current assets according to the 2019 accounts are just under £272,000. How then can the party claim to have a fund of almost £600,000 available to spend “at a moment’s notice”? Is it being held “off the books” in some way?
(8) And finally, given that questions were being asked about this money as far back as January, why has the SNP taken so long to issue even this rather weak attempt at an explanation, allowing the matter to fester damagingly for months?
I look forward to your response.
Regards,
Stuart Campbell
Editor
Wings Over Scotland
I have already emailed Colin to ask my own questions! I would like to see the separate ledger as I have donated!
First off, a belated happy birthday Stu! Hope you enjoyed it despite the circumstances with covid.
Secondly, you might want to ask why the information about the RAF wasn’t released until now – you have been questioning this for a few months now, if I’m not mistaken, with regards to the SNP’s accounts not being released by the Electoral Commission until yesterday? Why did the SNP wait until today to address the concern?
And talking about the Electoral Commission, has any reason been given for the extremely late release of the accounts? I believe you had said they claimed to have the accounts months ago but weren’t publishing the for some undisclosed reason?
I think I can see tumbleweed in the distance.
“And talking about the Electoral Commission, has any reason been given for the extremely late release of the accounts? I believe you had said they claimed to have the accounts months ago but weren’t publishing the for some undisclosed reason?”
They said they wanted to publish all the main parties at once.
“you might want to ask why the information about the RAF wasn’t released until now”
Good point, added.
Zinger…thanks for asking on my behalf Stu, as I really can’t be arsed getting into any detailed dialogue with these scheisters.
I would not hold your breath.
However for all you donators perhaps just copy and paste these questions into your enquiring email.
Saves a lot of typing.
Funny how all the delusional hierarchy read your website to find out the truth on the street so they csn get their own Hand Christian Anderson to conjure up a response for the faithful steeple to stop any doubts they have.
Personally I reckon the No to Indy Party have no chance of winning Holyrood next year. All the people I talk Indy with are sick to the back teeth of the Parties motives now.
Good work in calling out their lies and look forward to the next instalment.
Excellent – short and sweet. Should save me emailing.
There’s a lot of messenger-shooting going on today.
Have just blocked approx the 10th ‘indy’ supporter of the day, angrily insisting that the money hasn’t gone missing, it’s just ‘resting in another account’ somewhere.
This stushie is all Wings’ fault, naturally…
Thank god for wings forensic work on this issue it’s not going to go away I’m sure there a great many SNO members like myself looking for salient answers to the questions posed
Don’t hold your breath for a reply on this one, I’d imagine Beattie and other shifty SNP characters utterly despise you for your wonderful revelations from within the party.
First of all belated Happy Birthday Stuart ,
I don’t know how Colin Beattie can say that he’s contacted every member because I’ve not received an email from him yet . They’re not slow in sending out emails when they want to raise funds .
Thanks for the link to the SNP email Rev.Stu
As a long standing member of the SNP, it was good to see it given that the SNP haven’t sent me a copy of my own as yet
I know SNP HQ are notoriously poor at answering queries from members and branch officials, so it’s good to know I can rely on you to keep us informed rather than the party I pay money to, vote for and keep in business year in, year out
Maybe we should just vote for you and cut out the middle man….hmmmm
Sounds like a very workable set of suggestions.
??
Your Q7 is important given that half of the net assets are fixed assets that couldn’t possibly be made available at a moment’s notice (unless they’re going to sell all their computers the minute a referendum is announced).
Can you publish the email you received? ?There are frequent complaints about ordinary indy supporters sending abusive material-it might be useful to see it the other way round.
“Can you publish the email you received?”
TRY CLICKING THE SODDING LINKS.
Stuart, you are also representing people like me who used to be members and might rejoin, in my case if I see a return to sanity and open-ness.
“I’m not a member of the party I believe I do speak for a considerable number of people who are,”
Stu, that is a remarkable claim.
It smacks of well,
When are you going to get back on the saddle, sir, if ever?
Magnificent
It’s just resting in Father Ted’s account.
Do we know how much the Alyn Smith vs Brexit Party debacle cost the SNP in legal fees? The BBC article at the time states he “agreed to pay a “significant” contribution to Mr Tice’s legal costs, and will also make a donation to the Help for Heroes charity” although I’ve got some doubts that the shifty Smith alone would entirely bankroll this. Maybe the campaign piggy bank gets raided when lawyers come knocking
“Do we know how much the Alyn Smith vs Brexit Party debacle cost the SNP in legal fees?”
We don’t, but from personal experience I can say with very great confidence that it’ll have been tens of thousands.
Reply coming just after the world is clear of Covid 19?
The answer to Q1 & Q7 involves the SNP going back to being in debt with commercial borrowing.
The RAF has been a handy interwoven mechanism to replace these loans with an interest free loan.
It sort of makes sense but wasn’t what the donors signed up for, I don’t remember seeing:
‘Donate here to give the SNP an interest free unsecured loan that will only be called in if they ever get round to IndyRef (p.s. we’ve got lots of controversial policies and other ways to delay that day) and if you don’t watch out the money will be interwoven away’
“Anyone whose primary interest was independence could donate money to Yes Scotland through the yes.scot site for that purpose, while anyone chiefly motivated by Queer Theory, thoughtcrime, stopping people from getting two-for-one pizzas and imprisoning former First Ministers for crimes they didn’t commit could donate to the SNP through its own existing donations page, located here.”
Ha ha.
Been through the links, can’t find any email address for Colin Beattie which is disappointing since I would quite happily copy and paste your questions and send them to him directly.
Any chance of his email?
From Mr Beattie’s email:
“The current strength of our financial position, for example, enabled us last year to win a landslide in the General Election, secure our best European election result ever, and contest a parliamentary by-election.
All three of these events were unforeseen“
It seems incredibly disingenuous to call the 2019 European Election “unforeseen” given that it took place in the exact time it was scheduled to, with only a short period following the EU Referendum where it appeared the UK would not participate. Not to mention the SNP insisted that Scotland would stay in the EU, suggesting that they had every intention of contesting the 2019 election even if the UK had left.
I’m getting really fed up with this.
[…] Wings Over Scotland Quick Questions For Colin TO: Colin Beattie MSP, National Treasurer, SNP DATE: 28 October 2020 Dear Colin, I […]
This RAF doesn’t show up on radar.
“This RAF doesn’t show up on radar.”
Take the rest of the evening off while I steal that.
They could just photocopy a current bank statement showing the balance in this RAF account.
Ian Brotherhood says:
28 October, 2020 at 5:23 pm
There’s a lot of messenger-shooting going on today.
Have just blocked approx the 10th ‘indy’ supporter of the day, angrily insisting that the money hasn’t gone missing, it’s just ‘resting in another account’ somewhere.
This stushie is all Wings’ fault, naturally…
Isn’t there just. You’d think if this was all just internet conspiracy nonsense as they appear to implying, they’d have been quick off the mark with a point by point rebuttal.It’s not like this is unexpected, questions have been raised for months now. After all it can’t be much fun being accused of mislaying funds, you think they’d be falling over themselves to come up with the perfectly reasonable explanation I have no doubt they have for us all.
For some reason I’m reminded of Father Ted and “the money was only resting in my account”….
Now I wonder who the “Father Ted” would be in the SNP?
No prizes for guessing 😉
Look here for Mr Beattie’s email link:
link to parliament.scot
Well well Mr Beattie.
I have been a member of the SNP since 1988. I know you are reading this. So no more diversions, no more obsfication, no more chicanery.
I demand to know where my money is. Show me the money!!
this is depressin stuff, am gonna watch father ted
Transferring the money to Yes Scotland is an excellent suggestion but, sadly, I think they’d all prefer to rot in jail than take good advice from your good self.
Still, it would go a good way to rebuild good faith and perhaps just a little trust along a road that’s getting longer by the second.
A belated Happy Birthday. Keep ‘en coming.
Are they employing Gordon Gecko’s accountant. They must be with the amount of creativity going on.
Belated happy Birthday rev, im not very good at reading accounts so maybe somebody can help me? Can some Branch Treasurers confirm following is the case?
As far as I am aware SNP HQ holds Branch funds at HQ . each branch is credited around a pound a month per member, these funds are to be used for Election leaflets and others costs incurred in pursuit of Elections, days of action etc. so if a branch gets 1000 leaflets then their HQ account is debited the cost of producing and delivering these leaflets. As the 2019 accounts claim around 125,000 members and Due to Covid there has been no Branch activity for around 8 months around 1 million pounds should be in the Branch accounts held at HQ. Where do the Branch accounts show up in the HQ accounts? We need to know so that if In this years (2020) accounts £500,000 or so is debited from the Branch accounts And credited to A Referendum account we know why Branch funds have been depleted.
Stu, let me assure you, your questions and scrutiny of the SNP leadership and those in well paid positions are causing them a coronary attack!!
Keep up the great work.
Also, like I have mentioned before, the NEC are very happy with the set up in Midlothian!
They have 1500 – 2000 members and a careerist cleek of nature deniers and anti independence devolutionists run the show.
If you have time to scrutinise the MP and his side kicks, you will no doubt have further questions.
Midlothian will be exposed.
Rev Stu
Just popped in for a mo to say well done. Brilliant analysis. How much does a contribution to your fund raising cost to gain a wings badge? You deserve it. As we say in Dundee you are running circles (actually it’s another expression which I won’t quote on a family website) around the SNP. An organisation I barely recognise now. I am glad I checked in for a moment. I am busy with extended family issues, somebody has to do it because nobody else is taking a care. Interesting times. Well done!
Well that’s News to me this guy is a MSP
Eh can’t remember ever seeing him or hearing about him in all the years I have been following and contributing to various Independence supporting causes I wouldn’t recognise this guy if he popped up in my soup ,
I mean obviously someone might know him but I just wonder how many more faceless individuals are lurking in background doing their time and causing little or no change to well anything , they appear to be just there, they probably wouldn’t be recognised in their own street, I guess most of us have come across the same kind of people instantly forgettable but I still wonder does the SNP need so many low flying objects . This political lark looks like a real sweet deal just talk a load of guff with a certain amount of conviction and reasonable clarity then off you go , Result .
O/T Re Harassment and Complaints Committee ,
We now have the written report from yesterday’s meeting ,
link to parliament.scot
Well I would be surprised if you get an answer to that, or if any member who just cuts + pastes the text.
But I think these are interesting questions, so I’d hope Cllr McEleny will get a response, or any member that rephrases these into a form that my old English teacher would approve…
A birthday present!
nice and scottish!
link to youtube.com
@ Robert Graham,
There are plenty of these individuals lurking about in the background. Very well paid and never, or nearly never campaigning for independence. Why would they?
Devolution has been good to so many of them.
Midlothian is riddled with them .
Is Father Ted looking after it? ” Dougal ,the money was just resting in my account” sort of thing.
I think they have shown where the money is. They say that donations are “woven through” the figures in their annual accounts. Now as their financial accounts do not have sufficient amounts of cash in the bank, that means they have spent it and if they are saying that this money can be made available at a moments notice they must have a loan facility set up with either a bank or private individual. Therefore they should show proof of this arrangement or go to jail for embezzlement.
The other point is that this money was given for a specific purpose, therefore, cant be used for another purpose without the doners permission.
Just so thankful we have you to rake through their dishonesty. It’s so disappointing to know that the present SNP leaders are no better than many of the politicians in London. But we can sort the problem out. Bin the lot and get a move on with Joanna, Alex, Angus (Brendan of course!)and so many other worthwhile SNP politicians.
Thank you again……and many happy returns of yesterday.
I haven’t received email
(4) How did the money in the RAF come to be “woven through” the accounts in various unexplained places….
Isn’t this quite literally the diametric opposite of what ‘ring fencing’ actually means?
The “resting money” has just been given coma status.!!!
If the RAF is hypothecated funds (accountancy posh for ring fenced)why is not hypothecated in the accounts?
Great work again! I’d appreciate an answer to the Rev’s questions Mr Beattie, as I donated to the original fund, but became dubious when the next one was announced, then utterly disgusted by the conduct of some SNP officials ( see Mhairi Black, Mhairi Hunter, Fiona Robertson etc), and left July 2019, after repeated emails questioning the aforementioned conduct were ignored. Will this be another case of donators being ignored? The ball is in your court as I know you will be reading this.
My first thoughts on reading this was that they paid off their overdraft with the ring-fenced money and just put it through their accounts leaving a 90,000 balance. They can borrow on their ‘overdraft’ if ever their was to be an indi 2.
Can you share Colin’s email? We also donated (twice) to this referendum fund. Thanks I’d like to also ask a few questions.
Cash is King, just show bank account statement where the peoples money is held. Until this is shown the only explanation is its spent.
What they mean by woven in I think is just that it is reported within the preexisting types of income they typically report on the P&L.
If you look in the P&L you can see the different types of income they list. Membership, Donations, Fundraising Income, Investment Income etc
It looks like it might be in the Donations line.
Someone said they did the crowdfunder in 2017 and again 2019.
Here are the Donations numbers.
2016 – 402,502
2017 – 1,423,657
2018 – 323,936
2019 – 904,695
Not sure but it does fit.
Let me get this straight …
It’s looking like, the Yes movement pitched in money for our Indy Ref Two and Nigel Farage finished up with it to splash about..
They had nae right !!
Then some have the bare faced cheek to throw shade at the Rev for reporting it..
Well let me report with absolute certainty, cause we are allowed to speak freely here.
Stuart Campbell didnay – fucking – well – spend – the Indy Ref Two money ..
The SNP did
If it’s no there ,it’s no him ye should be lookin at… is it?
For a Party used to not extending the common courtesy of a response to questions – not from their own MPs, let-alone members – this site sure has them suddenly fall over themselves to placate the growing concern. Seems, if we didn’t have their attention previously (we most probably did), we have it now.
Were the SNP completely confident in their veracity and accountability, today’s rushed statement by Colin Beattie wouldn’t have been necessary, instead they’d have simply rolled- eyes; ‘It’s the pest again’, laughed it off and got on with the day-job of delivering you-know-what. They’re not rolling eyes now – are they?
I know I shouldn’t, but I’m loving this, and I’m glad I’m on the right team.
Any good coming from this will be the thought that it’s probably the last time any Party of Independence has the smug to try-on this degree – any degree – of corruption, for we’re capable for it – we’ll see them and we’ll hold them to account.
Unfortunately the unnecessary attempts at humour (pizzas and queer theory), along with smugly declaring yourself to be a representative of the people, undermine and discredit the letter and give all involved parties the perfect excuse not to answer it.
Yes, we (the SNP), have an overdraft facility with our Bank, but that costs us money if we use it. Therefore, we’d rather use the ‘free’ overdraft facility afforded to us by income from ‘Referendum’ campaign. But we’re not going to let on that’s what we’re up to, because it may piss off a few of those who might otherwise be persuaded to part with their hard-earned.
Seems the most likely scenario, if outright embezzlement is discounted.
Oh this just gets better and better, you are a gem.
If there is a whopping overdraft offsetting the RAF money then they will have likely used the RAF money as collateral to guarantee the overdraft and reduce their borrowing costs and / or get access to a bigger overdraft. Maybe this is what really motivated them to crowdfund the RAF to begin with. Even if they could not spend the RAF money it would still be very valuable to them as collateral.
That way they kinda get to spend the RAF money while also being able to say they are ‘ring fencing’ it.
But you are not really ring fencing it if you are using it as collateral to borrow money that normally you could not afford nor access.
Sort of like if you say send me 500k for an idyref2 fighting fund and we will ring fence it. But then on the QT you go out and use it as collateral to borrow 500k you could never normally afford and which you then spunk up against the wall on everything but fighting indyref2.
They are such duplicitous feckers who lack a normal person ethical boundaries that I cant put anything passed them at this point.
Happy Birthday and many many thanks for your succinct message to SNP penpushers. I hope it bears fruit and truthfulness, at last.
“Do we know how much the Alyn Smith vs Brexit Party debacle cost the SNP in legal fees?”
“We don’t, but from personal experience I can say with very great confidence that it’ll have been tens of thousands.”
does the brexitparty accounts on the same EC site give a clue ?
“15. GUARANTEES
The Party has given indemnity towards legal costs of a third party. This amounted to £100,200 in total which was
paid post period end.”
link to search.electoralcommission.org.uk
An over draught facility can be withdrawn quicker than it was arranged.
There are only UK right wing banks they could use
so they might be up for helping the Westminster Government that
Allowed them Casino Banking, an £80 Billion bail out and
Money laundering facilities,
If this is what they are trying to call a ring fenced fund, they have nothing!
(The RAF doesn’t show up on Radar ) Thats because they’ve borrowed ah Stealth plane from the Donald
I thought it had been blown away in a Typhoon.
I was going to ask if Colin Beattie was an accountant, but I see from Wiki, that he was a “banker”.
Whatever position that might have been.
Threaded through various accounts. If so, would there not be a total of £7oo K + as cash at hand.
David Lyons @ 7.32pm
No, it doesn’t .
But you already knew that.
If the SNP wokeratti have spent, or used, the ring-fenced money then the police and the media will jump on this…..unless they are yoons …..Oh ! wait …..unless they are very helpful to the yoon cause.
We will soon see which way the wind blows. And let me say now I don’t see Glen “confabulator” Campbell reporting this at all.
‘Woven through’…or How To Make a Scottish Quilt…inventive use of a textile term…the word ‘crafty’ comes to mind…
I don’t really see what the big deal is about this money. They aren’t going to go for a referendum anyway. I mean, the money might as well be there for a referendum. What difference would it make?
Actually you all have it back to front. The money wasn’t for the indyref2 campaign – the indyref2 campaign was for the money.
They ring-fenced the referendum, not the money. Nobody can’t get near it. That’s why they talk about the section 30 process as if it was handed to them on stone tablets by God.
Basically the opposite of what they say is generally the truth. Try it out.
In keeping with Sturgeon’s gender woo-woo doctrine, Colin Beattie has offered to provide ledger reassignment surgery.
David Lyon @ 7.32
Seriously…. you advocate polite and correct behaviour???
That’s so 2014 …
THEY SPENT the INDY REF MONEY .
They have questions to answer no matter how they are framed.
And don’t be forgetting they were shown ( led by the fecken nose ) a way out.
Beg steal or borrow the money and stick it in that Yes Account the Rev mentioned.
Because no body cares who’s right or wrong here…it’s no about egos.
Getting the Yes movements money back into play is what matters right now.
Although if Holyrood think they can mull it all over for thirty odd years and then apologise like Westminster always do….then they are very much mistaken I’d say… but that’s for another day.
Belated good wishes on your continued ageing!
I have some money ring-fenced for your present, it’s right here in my account… er…
…oh shit
Colin Beattie was a banker in the ME & FE – who was the Bank he worked for?
Just received a response from Alyn Smith to an email I sent on the missing funds.
He replied “The big hoose must stay open”
I received this in response to my questioning on Twitter. Make of it what you will, I don’t have any accounting know how.
“If monies are invested they only have to record income from investments. I note that is accounted as £6,336 which suggests quite substantial investment.
I also note in expenditure that over £520,000 was transferred out.”
I made the effort today to send my long and detailed email to Colin ……. awaiting his response .
Harry mcaye@ 8:22 Out and in has to correspond on a balance sheet
Happy birthday to Stu,
Stick your nose in this sham too,
If they look like a flunky,
and delay indyref 2
“ “If monies are invested they only have to record income from investments. I note that is accounted as £6,336 which suggests quite substantial investment.
I also note in expenditure that over £520,000 was transferred out.”
So where is the money?
Oh, and congratulations on your promotion in the press. From ‘controversial’ to ‘well connected’! What next – ‘Vile’ to ‘Beloved’? Can’t wait!
So far off topic we are into the Brodie zone but I have just watched the hustings for the candidate selection for Argyll and Bute. My intention on who I will vote for has not changed but it was a surprise when Ms Spears came over as the candidate for going for it without a section 30. I suspect she was a machine gun in a previous life as she fired off so many sound bites in a short space of time. Still Minto/Smyth one and two just not sure of the order. I have to hand it to Sarah Fanet as she spoke well and a fair bit of sense. Not sure I can sit through another of these so will maybe save myself for the final one on Sunday. Message ends.
The money was given for a purpose.
Surely if it has been siphoned off, then a fraud has occurred and a crime has been committed.
One which the police could pursue…
Sylvia says:
28 October, 2020 at 8:11 pm
Colin Beattie was a banker in the ME & FE – who was the Bank he worked for?
Citigroup (USA) plus Standard Chartered (UK)
I didn’t get the email either but, I didn’t donate to the indyref funds.
I have long believed another indyref was unlikely to happen under Sturgeon. I didn’t want another one anyway.
Beattie looks as dodgy as his cockney twin who is/used to be? On eastenders.
The RAF was woven through the generous remuneration packages of Her Scottish Majesty’s Ladies in Waiting and is now ring-fenced in their Maldives holiday fund.
@David Holden,
The old saying goes “When you want to help people you tell them the truth. When you want to help yourself ,you tell them what they want to hear”
Comment of the thread!
“In keeping with Sturgeon’s gender woo-woo doctrine, Colin Beattie has offered to provide ledger reassignment surgery.”
PMSL @G H Graham says at 8:09 pm!
🙂
Sylvia – His suggestion is it’s in another place and not accounted as party funds and I did say, surely that’s illegal.
Strategy @ 9.03
Minus of course an alleged generous stipend to keep Nigel Farage happy.
Think About It..
The Yes Movement of Scotland has funded Nigel Farages largesse…
Was that really what we had intended happen ?
They’ve taken us for fools
Davie Oga @ 8:11 pm Thank you – Please everyone look at the USA influence within the SG.
Harry mcaye I would agree with you.
Well, the “Missing Money” will either show up when it is required or it won’t.
If it does show up, will it be because the CIA flogged some military hardware to the Ukrainians and sneaked the dirty dosh into Nicola’s account?
Or was it hiding in plain sight in the accounts all along, as an asset in one column and as a liability in the other?
If it doesn’t show up, will it really matter? … this bunch of shape shifters have squandered a lot more of our birthright than can be quantified in £.s.d.
What Breeks says. Arent ‘woven through’ and ‘ring-fenced’ not polar opposites?!?! I know this is off the scale naive, but arent accounts supposed to clearly show such things as ring fenced funds??? Rather than needing to use subsequent foggy language like ‘woven through’. This is soooo fishy.
Im sure Polis Scotland are rapidly putting together a ‘RAF Team’. Maybe call it the Flying Squad!!!
Sorry, but if you dont laugh…
Given that the SNP claim missing money is still there, ready to be used, is it possible to obtain a refund if you’ve no faith they’re actually going to hold a referendum?
@ ‘drookit says:
28 October, 2020 at 7:46 pm
“Do we know how much the Alyn Smith vs Brexit Party debacle cost the SNP in legal fees?”
“We don’t, but from personal experience I can say with very great confidence that it’ll have been tens of thousands.”
does the brexitparty accounts on the same EC site give a clue ?
“15. GUARANTEES
The Party has given indemnity towards legal costs of a third party. This amounted to £100,200 in total which was
paid post period end.”
link to search.electoralcommission.org.uk‘
——
Good detective work there Drookit.
So, from memory Big Daddy Smith, put his foot in his mooth after the EU election, which he should have paid for out of his own pocket… but which SNP members have covered, and as a reward, he was parachuted into the Stirling constituency MP’s seat because he is one of the SNP’s ‘big hitters’.
Once again, which part of the SNP party manifesto, or employment contract, covers the terms and conditions by which employees within the party receive free legal representation/and or cover for fines for offences caused.
And it has got to be written down somewhere, or else, once again members of the SNP will have very reasonable cause to suspect their donations have been unlawfully misappropriated, and should be able to make a claim against Alan Smith for a refund.
It is also one thing to get legal representative cover – and there are good arguments for having some form of employment insurance scheme for that, but it is another thing altogether to then add to that… and if you’re found guilty we’ll pay the fine/damages on your behalf.
I do hope someone who is still a member of the SNP takes this up.
Re Smith v Brexit
The two sides agreed to keep their full financial settlement confidential, but the Brexit Party said Mr Smith had contributed “significantly” to Mr Tice’s legal costs as well as making a charity donation to Help For Heroes.
link to archive.is
Frazerio
The £6,366 investment income listed in the accounts, is a tale tale sign that they have some kind of investment.
Bond interest rates are have not been very impressive for a number of years sub 1% being normal, which would suggest to me that they do have a big pile of loot salted away somewhere.
And it will be produced when the time is right, to act like a vaccine, immunising them against further criticism from the rag-tag coalition of Lunatic Fringe Fundamentalists, deranged Conspiracy Theorists, aggrieved egoists, Yoon shills and Coronavirus deniers, they would have people believe us to be.
I’m afraid Stu might be leading us up a blind alley on this one.
“Bond interest rates are have not been very impressive for a number of years sub 1% being normal, which would suggest to me that they do have a big pile of loot salted away somewhere.”
Sigh. No, they don’t, because if they did and it wasn’t in the accounts IT WOULD BE ILLEGAL.
I know sweet fa about accountancy
So my question is
If the SNP paid Smith’s ‘significant contribution’
Are they not obliged to mention this specifically?
Or can all legal costs be buried in the one number without obligation to breakdown that number?
Happy belated birthday to you Stu.
I also have not received an email. I set up a monthly direct debit in 2016 and cancelled it when I left the SNP in mid 2019. However come the 31 Jan 2020 I wrote and asked for it back and said I would return it if there was a ref – as I’d prefer it resting in my account than theirs. Silence. Had to write several times to Ian McCann. Eventually he replied saying It was in a ring fenced fund for a referendum however he added that Boris was saying no to a section 30. Good excuse eh? Then came covid and Nicola said ref was off so I wrote again and asked for my money back to go to a food bank. Silence. Sad eh?
Anyway it is indeed very Father Ted – “resting in my account” and all that. It’s also like the Eurovision Song Contest episode when Ireland enter father ted and Dougal cos they actually want to lose it. I’m feeling like father Dougal these days. Treated like a numpty. Lol
Anyway once you know the truth you can then see the path ahead – cheers for that.
Col.Blimp IV It its hidden in another account then thats a slush fund which is illegal . See previous post.
“Bond interest rates are have not been very impressive for a number of years sub 1% being normal, which would suggest to me that they do have a big pile of loot salted away somewhere.” Would be easy for them to show that this is the people’s money but why use the term “woven”.
Very pertinent questions which do need answered. Keep up the good work.
Lenny Hartley & Asklair
I would assume that the auditors would have had access to the relevant information (where the money came from/where it is now), I cant see them signing it off otherwise.
Why they wouldn’t list it in the published accounts as fund-X or whatever, is beyond me, as is a great deal of what what passes for logic and reality in their alternative universe.
Col.Blimp IV says: “I’m afraid Stu might be leading us up a blind alley on this one.”
What do you know? You’re just a guy.
I would say that there is one person who would be able to work this one out and I know that Wings can contact him .
It would appear that many in the cabal are operating out of their depth, time for a new broom to sweep out the crap.
Hatuey
The donors all got a letter saying that the fund stands at £593,501 and can be deployed as rapidly as one of Saddam Hussein’s WMD’s and “Honest Guv” it is standard practice to lump everything together when preparing accounts.
We are never going to know whether he was telling the whole truth, or whether half of it was spent on something else and when the time comes to spend it on the stated purpose, the shortfall would have been made up from other revenue streams or borrowing.
And to be honest it never really mattered in terms of potential leaflets through doors or slogans on billboards.
But he has taken the opportunity to claim to have exposed the “conspiracy theorists” as the charlatans and Yoon wreckers we are not, thus strengthening the Wokeie hand
Blimp, don’t you think Rev considered that, that it was a potential trap, etc? Don’t you think he’s looking before he leaps right now on everything he says? Don’t you think he knows they’d love to discredit him? And don’t you think he has sources (he has alluded to them)?
It’s another slam dunk until we see ring-fenced funds. Might be worth reminding ourselves what ring-fenced doesn’t mean here; it doesn’t mean absorbed into the general accounts of the SNP.
So there are two obvious possibilities.
Possibility 1. They have a line of credit with a bank and will use that to replace the donated funds when (ahem) the time comes. (Brief pause to note that spellcheck changed “comes” to “conned.” Having looked at the accounts back to 2014, I suspect the credit line is about $500,000. The SNP is an unincorporated association. Anyone with a fiduciary duty to donors who relies on a credit line in this situation is a [insert choice of adjective] dunce. Seriously.
Possibility 2. It went straight to a separate Accounting Unit. Hey, that’s ok. At least the money is still there. Excellent. Let’s celebrate with a few drams. It would also mean that the “woven through the accounts” line is a lie.
Liars v dunces. Which is it SNP leadership?
Fuck TWATTER locked me out for calling that cunt Irvine Welsh, eh a CUNT,
My oh so offending tweet below, acht a Dee really but Hibs my 2nd Scottish team. Alison Balharry.
============================================================
Fucking up the #Hibs eh and BTW does that cunt @IrvineWelsh give cash to ANY CUNT in #Leith who is currently having a fucking drug addled SHITE time, just an idle thought. Glory glory to the Hibeeeeeeeeees. ?????
Col Blimp IV @ 12.39
I think the point is that Indy Ref Two is being held back till there’s money for it.
All those open goals of the past few years deliberately missed to hide the missing funds.
Risking
The future of our Country.
Tory Policies on our backs for longer.
Resources dissapeard into the private sector
EU compatibility reduced
All because the SNP spent the campaign money.
If none of that is true …. If it’s not that they spent the campaign funds that’s holding us up.
Then show us the money…. OR… bloody well admit that they have spent it and that ,it is what it is , so we can move on from there …
We might no get a “booklet ” from SNP HQ but the Wee Blue Book Two is good to go and can *really * be in production at a moments notice.
At least that part of our fighting fund is secure!
All that “eyes on the prize ” stuff that many are fond of sayin to Wings ( who didn’t spend the Indy Ref Two money ) all that “sort this after Indy” rhetoric ( women have been getting told )applies here too…. doesn’t it ???
And if no why no?..
I took the time to copy Stu’s post and questions and sent an email to Colin Beattie personally, as a couple of people posted rather condescendingly that Stu’s assertion that he spoke for a lot of members was questionable
I am not an SNP member but I donated to the RAF which Mr Beattie condescendingly appears to overlook when he talks about sending emails to members, AS USUAL us non members do not need consideration or attention until funds are needed or votes are needed then we are all in it together
But just to clarify Mr Beattie, Stuart Campbell does speak for me and I support his efforts to expose where the RINGFENCED funds are
Skip, sorry but with your option 1 it seems to be implicit that the money has been used elsewhere. That’s not ring-fenced, even if they promise to give it back when the time comes…
And if option 2 is applicable, it should be easy enough for them to show proof of funds. If they could do that then I’m sure they would have by now. And they don’t seem to be saying that.
Corporate accounts is pure artistry, as unintelligible to most of us as neoplasticism. Most of us do understand what was meant by “ring-fenced” though.
-Abalha-
Nineteen out of twenty Irvine Welsh fans are posh wee dweebs who think he’s “authentic” and that liking him makes them hard.
-Rev-
Belated happy birthday, keep up the good work, Woodward and Bernstein would be proud.
If Colin Beattie cannot say where the referendum money is, and how much it is, then it is not unreasonable to assume that the rmoney has gone.
People are asking a simple questions and all they want is simple answer.
So where’s the money Colin – spent, frittered away on Murrell’s big salary, spent on legal fees?
Meanwhile, the farce of the candidate selection continues with thousands of members still to receive their candidate selection papers.
Yes that’s right, halfway through the voting process which started last Friday paper voting candidates are still to receive their papers. Yes, still to receive their papers. Maybe the party didn’t have the money for the stamps. Absolutely incredible!
Abalha says:
29 October, 2020 at 2:47 am
Genuinely cannot see how Twitter could possibly have taken exception to your innocuous remarks. Have a couple of drinks and you’ll feel better… 😉
Lizg says:
“I think the point is that Indy Ref Two is being held back till there’s money for it.”
If sins come in two categories Forgivable and Unforgivable – I would mark that one down as Unforgivable.
While putting their own personal and sectarian interests ahead of their supposed goal of independence would seem to be a character trait of these people, I have yet to see compelling evidence of that being the case in this instance.
So am tending toward a not proven verdict until such times as evidence to the contrary surfaces.
Hatuey
I don’t think Stu is infallible and I don’t think this line of attack is likely to land much of a blow – unless it prompts 30,000 to return the two books of Christmas Draw tickets they have been sent minus the twenty quid, which would be poetic justice of sorts.
Rev Stu
The Auditors job is to count the beans and verify that there is the correct quantity and they have the correct labels on them.
That interest income would have to have been matched to something and if not the IndyRef money, what?
Beatie’s letter was shite and no substitute for transparency but I can’t envisage him slipping six grand of his own money into the pile under the guise of it being the interest payment for a non-existent investment.
If it transpires that donations ring fenced for indyref2 were indeed woven through the overall income and used to part finance the Brexit party then, given the McGarry precedent, both Smith and Beattie can expect to have the whip withdrawn, get humiliated by the Scottish press and be dragged several times before the Scottish courts.
On bright side, being a prima facie matter for the UK Serious Fraud Office, it does provide SNP with added incentive to declare some form of independence before end of December.
In reply to APerson at 0348 you say
Nineteen out of twenty Irvine Welsh fans are posh wee dweebs who think he’s “authentic” and that liking him makes them hard.
============================================================
Aye bang on.
In reply to DavidF at 0433 – aye what part of calling Irvine Welsh a CUNT could be deemed offensive, as you say.
Any doors didn’t just have a drink but spent the best part of 3 hours on the blower to an Iraqi-Canadian pal, hadn’t chatted in ages and feel much better.
BTW appears I’m in the TWATTER sin bin, like ice hockey, used to go every Sunday to Dundee ice rink to warch the Rockets trounce the opposition,for another 6 hours.
Acht well, means I can get on with a’ that housework I’ve been steadfastly avoiding.
Aye and thae smart lads at the ‘Wings Scot Party’ dug around my old tweets, 10/19, and reposted this thread on some ofmy hassles at Yes Scotland BUT importantly details why I think Irvine Welsh is a CUNT.
link to twitter.com
@ Col.Blimp IV
29 October, 2020 at 4:56 am
It’s not interest income. If it was it would say so, and it would have to come from interest-generating cash deposits (which don’t exist). Cash deposits aren’t investments. There was no interest income in 2019.
It says it’s investment income, and that means it must have come from disposals of or dividends on investments. But please don’t ask me how you generate £6366 on investments of four hundred and sixty nine quid – the same four hundred and sixty nine quid as the previous year. Just another mystery wrapped in an enigma in the SNP accounts.
Is there anyone left who does not understand the NS way of operating?
“Look, I’ve been completely honest with you…”
“Scotland will not allow itself to be dragged out the EU…”
“Stop Brexit!” [For England]
Ringfenced? …. blink, blink!
Is FMQs on today or do they have another day off for some reason?
*goes to check*
Yes, it is on, and it starts at 12.20.
Could be interesting.
Ian B @7.43
Could be interesting, indeed. Would love it if some of the SNP back benchers started to ask awkward questions…..but I won’t be holding my breath on that.
Grey – The only ones that might say anything. Are the ones like Republican Rose who are resigning next year. If the other ones say anything the Murrells will invent smear stories about them, and send to their friends in the Daily Retard!
Casting around for some plausible explanation for the whole can of worms, one that might justify Beattie’s claim that the money is available “at a moment’s notice”, it occurs to me that:
1. The SNP has spent the money on current expenses
2. But they have an overdraft facility
3. If they need the money they simply use their overdraft “at a moment’s notice”
A couple of problems with this:
1. It’s profoundly unethical and probably illegal
2. The overdraft would then have to be paid back from future income / non-existent assets
3. If I was a bank that had agreed an £500k overdraft with a political party, and the party came to request access to the overdraft, I would look at their dwindling membership and shrinking income, acknowledge that their Covid measures were crushing the economy and likely to reduce their income even further, and say… “Nah. You can’t have the £500k…”
If, and it’s a big IF, IndyRef2 ever takes place – no laughing at the back – it won’t matter how much the SNP may (or may not) have in terms of funding if there is no campaign spending limit.
Businesses in London and establishment luvies like J K K Rowling-in-it will just throw huge amounts of cash at the Naw Bags and the Yessers will be totally outgunned.
O/T
Article on RT News about UK Govt. being taken to court by a female prisoner who was sexually assaulted by a fellow inmate who is genetically male.
Anyone know who the MP is?
I can only read the headline.
link to thenational.scot
.
OUCH.
Stuart, well done, you finally got one of these ENTITLED gravy train riders to reply to the MOST READ political website in Scotland.
As this anonymous banker called Beattie has slandered swathes of us as conspiracy theorists perhaps ex-Councillor Beattie could reflect on the FACT that Wings Over Scotland is so well read PRECISELY BECAUSE STUART CAMPBELL SOURCES ALL THE FACTS herein.
I resent political troughers taking aim at people on this website as conspiracy theorists because many of us deal in facts. I know the difference between right and wrong because Strathclyde Police spent £30,000 training me in law.
I know for a FACT that ex-Councillor Beattie is a little bit DODGY. The proof? …
EXHIBIT A: link to standardscommissionscotland.org.uk
So here is my question…
Dear Colin,
(1). How did an ex-councillor and an ex-banker, two of the least reputable professions, manage to land the job as the SNP Treasurer?
(2). Did you disclose the fact that you had been formally censured by the Public Standards Commissioner For Scotland to your current employer?
(3). Please can you reply in full to Stuart Campbell? You “think” you are dealing with “conspiracy theorists”. Perhaps there are one or two about, but the risk management officer in your organisation should be looking at ever more expensive legal advice due to possible litigation headed to your door. You see Colin, your problem is arrogance. You believe you are right and everyone who questions or disagrees with the legal document you signed and submitted to various statutory authorities are “conspiracy theorists”.
(4). Here is a fact for you to digest: If you fail to answer Stuart Campbell and many of our concerns, I just spent £320 an hour x 3 at my solicitors to explore the legal remedy to force an independent audit of your organisation.
You and your sort claim your legal fees from the taxpayer. Me and my fellow “conspiracy theorists” along with the former First Minister Alex Salmond your friends tried to imprison have to pay our own legal fees. Yet such is the concern here that we pay our own fees.
Colin if you fail to prove the RAF money is safe and NOT “woven” into your “flexible” accounts in a similar manner to the FACT YOU PERSONALLY BROKE THE LAW CONCERNING STANDARDS IN PUBLIC LIFE, THEN PREPARE TO BE INTERVIEWED UNDER CAUTION.
I and many of us here have much better things to do with our time. You and your ilk have pushed your luck to the very edge.
Prove the RAF money is RINGFENCED and NOT WOVEN or I for one will be walking into my nearest police station to make a formal complaint in regard to the concerns over the accounts document you signed.
@Big Jock,
It’s Kenny MacAskill.
Article you posted says Kenny MacAskill @Big Jock says at 8:23 am
“Former justice secretary Kenny MacAskill wasn’t convinced. He also questioned why, according to the accounts, the party had spent £156,483 on legal fees last year, up from £38,676 in 2018. “There’s still huge questions to answer,” he said.”
So, does this all mean that either:
a) the SNP have added the ‘ring-fenced’ funds to their own coffers and so have committed an offence by effectively spending it (we can never know, because it’s just part of their cash) – not what people donated the money for. Or
b) they’ve put it in a slush fund off the books, and so is illegal?
Just another corruption scandal to add to the list then?
Haha, I just had a thought there – is this why the Scottish government is asking for borrowing powers? They can do a bit of accountancy magic, and a little bit of that borrowing will appear in a Ring-fenced account at SNP HQ?
No, I don’t know anything about accountancy.
Go Kenny…..
Don’t let them away with this!
Al-Stuart says:
29 October, 2020 at 8:28 am
.
OUCH.
Stuart, well done, you finally got one of these ENTITLED gravy train riders to reply to the MOST READ political website in Scotland…
Hope you sent your letter snail mail Al-Stuart because that would make quite a clatter and a thump coming through the letter box. lol
i have recently become Treasurer of this ISP Branch. Nae other bugger wanted the job so it was muggins heres turn.
Should I raise funds for a particular purpose or deposit receipts from a fundraising event and the accounts submitted not include that amount or I spent the former on other things leaving the account with insufficient funds for the purpose I would expect to be questioned hard and even subject to a police equiry.
I refer readers to the case of Natalie McGarry and the WFI accounts for an example of the type.
It’s feeling like we are getting close to the point when we will need to consider protests outside the Murrells and other residences, as well as the Scottish Parliament to tell them that they will not treat us like idiots without some payback.
They really do drip with the arrogance that comes as a result of feeling untouchable.
With the laws on their side, they think they can ignore us, and they mostly can, but if we start to make life a little less cosy for them, they may just start to think twice about how they treat us.
Nicola, the fact that a growing number of YES voters now see the SNP under your leadership in ‘Them & Us’ terms, shows what a disaster you taking over has been!
You are a complete disgrace.
Wakey wakey Scotland.
This is what is meant by the expression having journalists holding people to account for their actions.
If you don’t like it, then go out and buy youself a Herald or a Scotsman, or spend an hour watching the BBC, and put yourself back to sleep filling your nostrils with all that nice and comfy anaesthetising BritNat propaganda.
Me? I like being awake, even if it means being alerted to threats that are danger-close. As a nation, we have slept too long in our complacency.
All those Independentists attacking Rev Stu are attacking the integrity of a Scottish journalist’s dogged determination to get to the truth without compromise, and that is a rare commodity you won’t readily find in any “Scottish” newsroom.
Bring it on. I want Scotland to be a fiersome place for any and all who fancy themselves as rogues, or even the indolent lapdogs of rogues.
Just cast your mind back folks… YES and the SNP of 2014 had nothing to fear from any quarter. It drew people to us when they didn’t really want to be drawn.
Compare and contrast…
Colin Beattie was SNP group leader on Midlothian Council before becoming an MSP.
Any idea who was involved/implicated in this?
link to web.archive.org
Additionally Midlothian Community Hospital (opened in 2010) was specifically called out regarding the PFI scandal.
If it wasna for the weavers…
We’d not just be funded for indyref2, we’d be having it.
From the National
link to archive.is
The donations figure on the statement of accounts confuses me
£904,695.00
link to search.electoralcommission.org.uk
The ones attacking Wings and others for exposing the lies.
Are the ones who don’t realise that Nicola and the SNP are being used by the media. Their first mission was to help destroy Salmond. They are backing Nicola at the moment because she is weak and no threat to he union. It also helps with their narrative that Salmond is a bad man.
Their next mission will be to destroy the SNP and the independence movement. Once the Salmond enquiry is over. Nicola and Murrell will be chucked under a bus by the media.
If this is to be rescued, then we must help remove the Murrells before the media do, and show that the party is going to be cleaned up from the inside.
If things are left as they are. The whole world is going to cave in on top of the rotten SNP leadership.
Better to expose it ourselves and clean it ourselves. Things are bad now , but how bad will it be if the Murrells cling on when the media frenzy reaches it’s peak pre-election.
“The money is in an account up at my grannys bit, you widnae know it”
Beattie. I can assure you the ringfenced indy funds are there.
Concerned. Where? in the accounts?
B. Yes don’t worry the money’s safe to be used at a moments notice.
C. But why can’t you just point out EXACTLY where the ringfenced indy funds are to put our minds at rest?
B. Trust me I know that the funds are safe, and when our beloved leader Queen Nicola sets the date for indy ref two, I’ll release the funds, don’t worry.
Concerned. (Scratching head, none the wiser).
Story from a few years back : “Demand for probe into failed charity chaired by SNP MSP Colin Beattie” 30th August 2017 The Herald link to heraldscotland.com
@Col.Blimp IV
An investment generating income….that raises 2 immediate questions
Are the investment (bonds/certificates) generating returns listed under Assets?
If its ring fenced “YES2” campaign monies generating investment returns, why are these returns being listed for the SNP accounts and not for YES Campaign? Would that insinuate the SNP are siphoning off any profit from this fund investment?
link to archive.is
I have an awful suspicion that the Murrells have people like McKinnon and Beattie in place should they need fall guys
Patrick Roden 9.12am
Been saying for months that a Demo should be held outside Bute House, but as per usual with “us Scots”, we are too fuckin feart.
We are a Nation of fuckin shite bags and we deserve every bit of shit that comes our way.
Murrell calling his offshore lawyer as we speak!
Surely this all makes sense. Nicola deliberately asked for a Section 30 knowing it would be refused. Then she backs away from indy ref 2 due to Covid. Then the economic effects of Covid. Time enough to try and claw some of the indy ref funds back from wherever they are.
Delay , delay , delay. The SNP are all fur coat and nae knickers. They have not a bean to fight the indy ref. So they must stop it at all costs.
Might also explain why they were so keen to stop Martin Keatings. If he wins then they have no reasonable excuse to delay. So the whole twisted plot is exposed.
Hatuey, as you have probably realized by now, I am attempting to come up with the explanation most favorable to the SNP leadership. As you can see, it is gross incompetence at best. I am beginning to wonder if the audit fee is do high because they were presented with a sloppy (opaque?) set of books and had to do a lot of extra work so as to have a basis for their unqualified opinion. Which leads me to other thoughts that would be a matter for the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Scotland.
After weeks of being told I had reached my free article limit at the National, I got to read the article linked above. Kenny MacAskill says the accounts are not very good. Does he mean the “bottom line” is not very good or is he criticizing the lack of information contained therein?
It makes me sad to see the SNP in this state.
Other parties are quite happy with murky finances – Labour’s various ‘muddles not fiddles’, the Lib Dems refusing to refund Michael Brown’s millions after he was jailed for fraud, the Conservatives and Russian oligarchs buying dinner with Ruth Davidson. The Conservatives and untraceable dark money donations funnelled via the DUP. The Conservatives and… well, you get the picture.
What makes the SNP any different?
It is this. The money in question came from ordinary independence supporters.
I don’t know anything about accountancy, so have no idea how innocent this situation may well be. But if Colin Beattie can’t answer the substance of this question, can you see the SNP ever again being able to run a fundraiser?
I don’t think it is an exaggeration to say that Colin Beattie today holds the fate of the SNP in his hands.
“I note that today you’ve sent an email to SNP members on the contentious topic of the party’s supposedly “ring-fenced” referendum campaign fund”
I’m a party member – have been for just about as long as Rev Campbell has been on this earth (belated happy birthday).
I did not receive – and still await – Mr Beatty’s e-mail. I get plenty others on a regular basis – but for some reason, not that one.
Wonder why?
here is an analogy.
Supporters give the SNP a 1,000 gallon reserve tank of petrol so that the fleet can be assured of moving when the call come. Tank to be set aside.
SNP then take the reserve tank and use it to fill up all their day to day running vehicles.
Supporter asks where is the hypothecated 1,000 gallon reserve tank. Oh it’s out there in the general fleet.
Oh that’s all right then Mr Treasurer I’m glad you kept the petrol safe, sound and it its reserve tank. But what happens now that the day to day fleet is running low on fuel?.
SNP members (if there are any left on here) copy and paste you know what to do. The truth will come out one way or another and for the sake of the reputations of the career wankers at the top of the party they should admit the truth in there own words rather than let others expose them
Folks, if you can’t read an article behind a paywall, copy the web page address to your clipboard,… usually right click and ‘copy’.
Open a new page, and type this into the space…
link to archive.is
(Don’t Google it, because Google seems to want it kept hidden and puts a load of rubbish in the way and you just get lost, so it’s easier to type it, (or have it bookmarked).)
Then, paste the web address from your clipboard into the archive.is spacebar…
If the page has already been archived, it will ask whether you want to go to the archive or save a new one…It will take you there to read it, or if it hasn’t been archived, it will archive it for you in a minute or so and show the page when its done….
If you want others to see it, just copy the archive link and paste it… job done.
The Cambridge dictionary definition of fraud id
“the crime of obtaining money or property by deceiving people”
The deception here is those who contributed did so on the understanding the the money would be set aside (ringfenced) for the specific purpose of fighting an independence referendum, it did not say the money would be used for the day to day running of the party which appears to be the case as the money is nowhere to be seen on the balance sheet.that money belongs to the contributors which they entrusted to the party for a specific purpose, they were not asked if the party could borrow it
Even if they intend to return the money through a loan or overdraft it is still a deception it is still fraud.
I see Ross Thomson (remember him?) Has been cleared, unsurprisingly enough, of help-ma-boaby gropery. Maybe some of the more unruly elements of the SNP have been inspired by him to grab the family jewels.
Breeks; good instructional.
I’ve had that link to archive.is link saved to my Bookmarks bar for precisely the reasons you outline. Job done.
Beware as I am not an accountant!
Looks like the fund has been spread across some accounting units to reduce their overdrafts Sensible action from a financial perspective to reduce overdraft costs.
The RAF could then be restored by using the overdrafts of the accounting unit. Simples.
The banks holding the RAF overdraft facilities may even by part owned by Westminster and will probably hold the Westminster line. Result all overdraft facilities removed at referendum time and SNP bankrupt.
How will run their campaign then???
Apologies if the above is bollocks but that is what I see as a non-accounting person. Westminster can destroy the SNP at any point they want….
Breeks and Kenny
Thanks! Great tip.
Me @ 5.28 pm yesterday,
Update , My email from Colin Beattie must be lost in the *never ever land* like a fairy tale because I’ve still not received an email from him.
Further written evidence to the ‘Sturgeon Inquiry’ (another memory-related ‘clarification’ – whoops!) from Judith Mackinnon:
link to parliament.scot
@Tam Fae somewhere
The one issue with overdrafts is that they can be withdrawn at the banks discretion.
Pretty sure using Paul Publics funds to ease Peters interest payments isnt quite the expectation of punters putting hard earned into “ring fenced” funds
As I understand it , MPs , MSPs etc are NOT employees of the party are they? They are public employees paid by the public purse.
Why then would the party pay Alyn Smiths legal fees? Why is he NOT personally liable for his actions but Margaret Ferrier is?
Re Harassment and Complaints Committee ,
This article from the Times about Judith MacKinnon ,
“ Senior official apologises for misleading Alex Salmond inquiry “ ,
link to archive.vn
And the written evidence page where Judith MacKinnon’s letter to the Committee is right at the bottom of the page ,
link to parliament.scot
I always thought that misleading meant the same as being deceptive which means that you are not telling the truth .
All these civil servants should have their desks cleared immediately , shown where the door is and told to leave without their pension rights etc and no further money paid to any of them .
@breeks : to get past a paywall, another trick is to turn javascript off – works for many sites but not all, and you may lose images from the page.
Ian @11.43
Thanks for that. Do you think all this forgetting and misdirecting is a deliberate attempt to muddy the waters or, as it has been suggested by others on here, that they are totally incompetent? Was talking to a pal about all this last night and she said, nobody’s that bothered. It’s only us folk who are political nerds who give a toss. Breeks said earlier journalists need to hold these folk to account and that is true. However, even if journalists did do their job properly, I’m not sure the average person in the street would care. Much more interested in Strictly and I’m A Celebrity. I despair!
@Grey Gull –
I really don’t know, but most folk know what ‘Watergate’ means without being able to name anyone affected or involved apart from Nixon.
Ian Brotherhood @ 11.43 am ,
I see we’re on the same wavelength looking at the Committee pages for updates or as the saying goes “ Great minds think alike “ LOL .
Maggie
Interesting the Times is reporting this. Wonder what are the chances of it being mentioned on the Scottish TV news? Wonder if Ruth will make comment at FMQ? I’ll need to switch it on shortly. More importantly I want to find out if I can get a drink inside my local anytime soon rather than sitting outside with the thermals on!
In reply to Grey Gull at 1143, hmm not sure I agree, was chatting to an older relative about it all today, she was appalled, in particular, at their lack of proper governance. When I told her that there was NO, by necessity, third party to oversee the candidates’ voting, she explained that in her church’s recent minister selection a 3rd party oversaw the counting, read out the results AND she says even the SWRI have third party oversight when electing committees. She could barely believe what she was hearing. Also that candidates in fewer than 6 contenders get to send 3 emails while 6 and over only 2. She’s a big indy supporter, never on social media, BUT she was very interested and plans to tell her friendship group. The referendum demonstrated if engaged people will get involved and perhaps more importantly politically participate as should be the case in any functioning democracy. Ours most clearly is not functioning.
Committee on Governemnt lies:
Judith McKinnon seems to me to be the most unreliable, devious and futile of the lot. Not as an ‘inventor’ of the procedure to try and entrap Mr Salmond, but rather as a person unfit to be employed in any capacity where other people have to rely on her ability and/or judgement.
I think all the misleading as far as memory lapses are concerned is to do with how much might have been destroyed/hidden before it got to committee proceedings. I believe that they lie in the hope that the committee doesn’t have that particular piece of paper.
Peter says:
29 October, 2020 at 11:49 am
As I understand it , MPs , MSPs etc are NOT employees of the party are they? They are public employees paid by the public purse.
Why then would the party pay Alyn Smiths legal fees? Why is he NOT personally liable for his actions but Margaret Ferrier is?..
You need to have WOKEN up to understand the answer to that question Peter:-)
Grey Gull @ 12.01
I’d say it’s all about trying to avoid giving the tv clip.
An answer for broadcast and then the correction that won’t be seen by most .
A tactic to be sure…
Breeks says:
29 October, 2020 at 10:44 am
Folks, if you can’t read an article behind a paywall, copy the web page address to your clipboard,… usually right click and ‘copy’.
Open a new page, and type this into the space…
link to archive.is
Thank a million for this
It’s impossible to get into the mindset of characters like Mackinnon etc, but imagine you got wind of an inquiry into catastrophic processes which could easily have resulted in an innocent man going to jail for the rest of his life? i.e. processes you were closely involved in developing and implementing?
My first action would be to break into a cold sweat and howl, ‘Oh, fuck!’ and my second would be to scour through every single bit of ‘evidence’ in my possession to see where I might have left fingerprints.
The idea that any of these people could appear in front of that committee with anything less than perfect knowledge of their role is just risible.
It’ll all come out eventually.
In the meantime, this FMQs gets under way with a huge Alex-Salmond-shaped elephant sitting right beside Nicola.
Oh dear, how fuckin sad…
Grey Gull @ 12.07 pm ,
This from the Bbc ,
Covid : Lockdowns return as Europe confronts second wave ,
link to archive.vn
If you were in France or Germany you wouldn’t be getting out to have a pint or two , you’ll just have to remember to put your thermals on when you go for your pint . LOL .
Nup, no email! Belated Happy Birthday!
Skip_NC Go into private mode on your browser, no cookies are kept so sites dont know if you have visited before so no limitbon numberbof articles you can read.
Just a quick question, was it Colin Beattie who couldn’t remember how Peter Murrell’s salary was calculated?
I don’t understand why all civil servants who were summoned didn’t give all paper work,emails & phone records for the past 3 years.
That would be a needle in a haystack approach which would have kept the enquiry wrapped up for months.
Their hubris will be their downfall. Strange that important stuff is so easily missing from their memories.
Breeks @ 12.47 pm ,
Yes it was and I think its more a case of nobody knows how much Peter Murrell is paid and it’s from this here at Wings from Kenny McAskill ,
link to wingsoverscotland.com
I’m more concerned by the fact the coffers seem to be so low.
It’s an organisation of anywhere between 80 and 120k donating each year.
5 million is brought in every year but only 1.5 million is spent on campaigns. Would love to see the income to campaign figures over the last ten years. What was it in 2007?
Understand there have been more elections but they aren’t every year and they have had a massive membership increase for 6 years. Where’s the money gone?
They should be sitting on more than 200k in reserve.
Thanks, Maggie @ 12.36
Yes, I suppose I should be grateful for small mercies!
So mackinnon tells( possibly winking as she says this)one of the 9 dishonest women who tried to stitch up alex salmond that she was likely to lead the interviews. This is corrupt. And I am glad that the judge saw through this lie -fest.
mackinnon then e-mails this utterly horrible women B confirming this. I am surprised the word stitch-up wasn’t in the e-mail.
THIS IS A SACKING OFFENCE. IT IS GROSS MISCONDUCT.
The murrells have got to go. This happened on their watch. I am now of the mind that they knew all about the stitch-up and actively encouraged it.
The good news is that mackinnon sent a correction. Which has been made public. It also strongly indicates that person B can no longer be completely trusted to keep schtuum.
The first person to break ranks, tell the truth and explain the whole corrupt conspiracy and name all those who were involved. I will not denigrate them or demand that they go to jail. Old fashioned ‘turning Queen’s evidence’. But this is only for the first person to break ranks. The rest must be jailed and that includes mackinnon.
Grey Gull @ 12.07 pm
Me @ 11.55 am
I see the Herald is also reporting about Judith MacKinnon but as you say whether it makes it onto the Stv or even the Bbc news is another matter ,
link to archive.vn
All ya need2 know bt guys called COLIN.
link to first-names-meanings.com
@FMQs, James Kelly’s gonny ask a question so he is!
‘Thank you First Minister, eh, naw, sorry, thank you Presiding Officer, ehm…’
Aw, bless.
He’s a national treasure.
I don’t know how old Judith McKinnon is but by her photograph she looks young enough to be Alex Salmonds daughter, I wonder how she would feel if a group of people conspired to lock her father up possibly for the rest of his life for crimes they know he didn’t commit.
If she gives that just a few moments thought she’ll know why so many of us despise her so much
Lenny Hartley, thanks for that. I’ll give it a try.
O/T
Jeremy Corbyn has been suspended from the Labour Party for mishandling the party’s anti Jewish stance.
Sturgeon has her “close friend” Somerville at the back of her during FMQs.
How sweet.
@ John H. at 1:39 pm
O/T
I very much doubt Corbyn is / was anti-Semitic in any form, Merely someone to blame,
If a donation has been disbursed inappropriately, not for the purposes that donation was sought, is the donor entitled to ask for their money to be returned? That is a legal question, which might be on shaky ground, but what about the moral question?
McKinnon lied under oath. The balance of probability that she ‘inadvertently’ misled the Committee is bullshit and she should be charged under whatever civil service code she is working under. Instant dismissal is too good. In a court of law it would be classed as perjury. A charge that the ‘Alphabet ‘ women should be facing now in my opinion.
I wonder who instructed her to renege on her ‘evidence’?
“John H. says:
29 October, 2020 at 1:39 pm
O/T
Jeremy Corbyn has been suspended from the Labour Party for mishandling the party’s anti Jewish stance”
John the way the entire neoliberal neocapitalist media and politicians relentlessly attacked Corbyn on everything including policies, reminds of the way the whole system used to attack the SNP. However in the last four years or so under Sturgeon, the all out attacks from the British nationalist media especially has abated, the question must by why.
Stonefree , you are considered Anti Semitic these days including by the SNP for criticising Israels genocide in Palestine, if thats the case them i am Anti Semitic and if I had a few mates round and said the above , our SNP esteemed justice Minister got to know about It, i could be jailed under his new hate Crime bill.
They are a bunch of yer actual fascists. There are very few or no people in England less racist than Jeremy Corbyn.
@Lenny Hartley –
Hear hear.
Blairites get their man. Never thought Jeremy Corbyn was much use, much like the Labour Party in general, now the right wingers have eventually managed to seize power they go in for the kill.
There is a political party ready for splitting….much like the SNP!
Astonished says:
29 October, 2020 at 1:08 pm
…. This is corrupt. And I am glad that the judge saw through this lie -fest…..
THIS IS A SACKING OFFENCE. IT IS GROSS MISCONDUCT.
The murrells have got to go.
I struggle to accept that such a rancid and unrepentant conspiracy can be exposed and undone in a Court of Law, and yet not one of the lying conspirators faces any consequences for their actions.
In my opinion, instead of being anonymous and protected by the Courts, they should each be facing individual criminal prosecution, the records and WhatsApp comments should have been seized as potential evidence, and every one of those involved should have been suspended and denied the means and opportunity to interfere with the evidence against them.
That certain players face NONE of those consequences, and are even left in charge of the evidence submitted to the Inquiry frankly beggars belief. Bute House is a crime scene, but it’s nothing to do with Alex Salmond.
“IF” this had happened in any other country in the world, there would have been a scandalous outcry, but here in Scotland, even grotesque and outrageous scandal is ‘filtered’ by our manipulative and selective media, and justice for Scotland is ‘doctored’ to suit the powered elites.
These are the trials we have to endure as an occupied and subjugated Nation, with our societal infrastructure riven with rogues, cheats, and liars who are safe in their jobs because it’s ‘only’ lowly Scotland they are shafting.
It isn’t just Sturgeon’s SNP which needs a ruthless clear out, but “Scotland’s” Civil Service, “Scotland’s“ Courts, “Scotland’s“ Media, and “Scotland’s” Devolved Government. They whole system is a racket that stinks of privilege and entitlement, and only flies a “Scottish” flag of convenience.
Scotland also needs to assert it’s sovereign self defence mechanism and instigate it’s own Security Service to quantify and counter the external manipulations and interference with Scottish political affairs, and establish a Scottish News Broadcasting Service which it’s Scottish from it’s DNA upwards.
Scotland is a Nation and entitled to a robust National defence infrastructure. We should already have these Institutions formed in lieu of Independence, and currently shadowing the activities of their “UK” counterparts.
Devolution and Holyrood has failed Scotland completely and absolutely, and Scotland needs a Constitutional Convention to step outside the rigged British game, and stand up for Scotland’s Constitutional Integrity and Nation status.
Impeachment of Holyrood would be a mighty first motion.
“Jeremy Corbyn was much use,”
Jason.
I can say it now Corbyn has gone, he was a bigger threat to Scottish independence that Sir Keir Starmer will ever be, Corbyn’s a socialist and he was all for implementing socialist policies that woul’ve changed England for the better in my opinion.
The Blairites and the right wing politicians throughout Westminster desperately wanted rid of him, as did the the right wing politicians corporate buddies. The really sad thing is that so many folk in England don’t yet realise what they’ve lost by the departure of Corbyn, but under this Tory government they eventually will, well most of the will.
Scotland will never emancipate itself if we allow the ‘Scottish’ government and ‘our’ legal Establishment to harm Scots law in a manner that enables Scots law to remain compatible with British constitutionalism, while simultaneously destroying the potential for justice in Scotland.
link to law.anu.edu.au
I read this article and found the last 5 sentences quoted from Phil Mitchell’s Old Man (Colin Beattie) quite revealing and worrying about him, more specifically his attitude. I’m no financial advisor but I like to think I can smell a rotten one when I see it.
cynicalHighlander says on 29 October, 2020 at 9:58 am
link to archive.is
Strange how, when reading this article, I could not help but remember all those different pictures of Sturgeon we’ve seen in various media outlets over the past 2 years. The ones of her sitting somewhere and looking as if she was mentally a million miles away. Looking haunted & very deeply worried about something. I’m sure you’ve all seen at least one of them?
‘Tam Fae somewhere @ 11:06 am’: Jeez-o I hope you’re wrong.
‘Big Jock @ 10:22 am’: Bang on the money me thinks. Especially this: “Nicola deliberately asked for a Section 30 knowing it would be refused.” Aye! Of course she did! And her reasons for doing so was to, as you say, claw back the money *but also* to buy some time to shove through some pet policy issues of the parties Wokeratie.
Now it’s all going ‘Pete Tong’ aka Peter Murrell.
Obviously and understandably lots of people on here are concerned about the “ring fenced referendum fund” however there is something else which is of concern.
That is the issue of the “going concern” basis. Simply put the going concern basis is the method used to prepare accounts where it is considered likely that the organisation can continue. In the case of the SNP that is, according to the Accounts the responsibility of the National Treasurer. However in all cases the Auditors, in this case Johnston Carmichael are required to carry out a risk assessment on whether or not the going concern basis is appropriate and comment appropriately. However Johnston Carmichael merely comment that preparing the Accounts on the going concern basis is a matter for the National Treasurer and that he “has not disclosed in the financial statements any identified material uncertainties that may cast significant doubt about the Party’s ability to continue”.
The Accounts show that the SNP has Current assets of £1,097,122 (including Prepayments and accrued income of £879,488). Current liabilities total £1,224,744.
I reckon in the eyes of most people, the resultant shortfall of £227,622 (1224744-1097122) presents a material uncertainty about the SNP’s ability to continue.
Also, next time you go to Tesco for a loaf or go to RBS for a loan tell them that you have no cash but you do have some computer software you value at £282k or second furniture and computers you reckon are worth £133k – please let me know how you get on with that one!
@Stoker –
‘Phil Mitchell’s Old Man (Colin Beattie)’
LOL
🙂
For me he’s more ‘Roll-up, roll-up! See the Amazing Bearded Baby!’
(Maybe that’s a ‘woke’ thing?)
Lenny Hartley says:
29 October, 2020 at 2:23 pm
Stonefree , you are considered Anti Semitic these days including by the SNP for criticising Israels genocide in Palestine, if thats the case them i am Anti Semitic and if I had a few mates round and said the above , our SNP esteemed justice Minister got to know about It, i could be jailed under his new hate Crime bill.
They are a bunch of yer actual fascists. There are very few or no people in England less racist than JC
I’m coming to the opinion that the only devolved powers left to Scotland will be the COFPS and the prison service.
Unless you want to live in a form of restriction for the next ten years, I suggest people stop getting tested.
A friend left the queue the other day for fearing of being late for work, and guess what…….that’s right….she tested positive.
This is beyond mental.
Only a dark mind will not let a good crisis go to waste. Remember that when you lose your job and your pension.
Breeks: “ It isn’t just Sturgeon’s SNP which needs a ruthless clear out, but “Scotland’s” Civil Service, “Scotland’s“ Courts, “Scotland’s“ Media, and “Scotland’s” Devolved Government…”
You could have added several more institutions to that list.
Right now we are seeing our Scottish NHS and associated research facilities being compromised and subordinated to serve the interests of political power. Let’s be under no illusions – covid-19 has been weaponised for political purposes too. I wouldn’t know where to turn to today if I wanted an honest assessment of where we stood in regards to this pandemic.
It’s a sort of contagion. The political head is poisoned and, when that happens, it’s just a matter of time before the body of government, with all its limbs that stretch into society and the lives of ordinary people, follow and succumb too.
They’re even redefining words. Today we are being told to open our minds to interpretations of the word “ring-fenced”. And why not? If you have the power to change definitions of fundamentals like “male” and “female”, why stop at accounts?
Stu, you say the email contains “offensive smears about my website and me” but it doesn’t mention you, it mentions “opponents” which could mean anyone. I do agree with you on Alyn Smith, he comes out with some stupid stuff sometimes.
I notice a few comments, not excusing but suggesting the money is being used rather than an overdraft. The difference is the SNP are claiming ownership of the money therefore this “debt” is not being listed as a liability in the accounts. If it were an overdraft it would feature in the liability column and the SNP would have gone burst over the year to the tune over well over £300K.
Regarding Corbyn, Anti Semitism and The Leader of ‘The Workers Party’ Sir Kier Starmer:
link to versobooks.com
“when the SNP proposed an investigation into Blair’s apparent lying in the run up to the war – bolstered by findings from the Chilcot report – Sir Keir voted against it.”
Starmer voted for Trident in 2016, and worked tirelessly to secure Labour’s support for the Investigatory Power Bill, which expanded state surveillance and authorised the bulk collection of digital communications.
As Labour Leader he whipped his members to abstain in the vote on the Covert Human Intelligence Sources (Criminal Conduct) Bill which allows Government Employees and informants commit crimes without the risk of prosecution.
As DPP, Sir Keir tempered his love of liberty by fast-tracking the extradition of Julian Assange (a process now making its way through the courts).
He flouted legal precedents by advising Swedish lawyers not to question Assange in Britain: a decision that prolonged the latter’s legal purgatory, denied closure to his accusers in Sweden, and sealed his fate before a US show trial.”
Starmer also approved a decision not to prosecute any police over the shooting (execution) of Jean Charles de Menezes in Operation Kratos – described by critics as a “shoot to kill” policy.
The Met had been trained/advised by Israeli security forces in the months leading up to this shooting in July 2005.
Sir Keir Starmer also apparently helped paedophile Jimmy Saville evade justice in 2009. It’s claimed that the Police force referred four cases to Britain’s Crown Prosecution Service – headed by Kier Starmer.
link to politicalite.com
That’s before you look at his connections to Israeli lobbyists a personal donation of £50,000 from Sir Trevor Chin who has made donations to many leading Labour figures in the past including Tony Blair and Tom Watson!
link to thecanary.co
And this from Starmer himself “I said it loud and clear — and meant it — that I support Zionism without qualification.”
link to timesofisrael.com
BritNat Labour is the UK Establisments B-Team and they are being rehabilitated in the public consciousness via the BBC/MSM in preparation to replace the Tories, lest real change occurs which threatens their place at the top of the greasy pole!
Note the constant media attacks on Labour have stopped now Corbyn has been binned and a self confessed Zionist (link above) Neo-Con has been installed as Leader (Imagine if Corbyn had hit a cyclist while driving a car)!
@Ian Brotherhood says:
29 October, 2020 at 3:04 pm
“For me he’s more ‘Roll-up, roll-up! See the Amazing Bearded Baby!’
(Maybe that’s a ‘woke’ thing?)”
He reminds me of the “Chinheads” advert for McEwan’s lager a few (several) years back 🙂
Jockanese Wind Talker @ 3.27pm.
Corbyn now suspended by the party, looks like the LFI, will push to have him kicked out.
@Iain Lawson
From what I gather Iain, I think the assumption is that the money has been used to pay off an overdraft which now leaves the SNP in the black.
I’m not particularly savvy with bookkeeping, but I would assume that an unused overdraft facility would not appear under liabilities on a balance sheet? I may be wrong though.
Off topic, but fun.
Have a look at what is bothering MSPs just now.
I thought April had rolled in early.
Nane o that Salmond shite.
link to thenational.scot
For those who have yet to catch up with ‘The Dangerfield Files’:
link to gordondangerfield.com
Just posted another thread with new intel on state of the SNP.
link to twitter.com
Republicofscotland
You say Corbin was a threat to Independence, yes I agree his socialist ideas would have attracted many in Scotland.
He was not evil enough to watch the right wing and deal with the many right wingers which are now in Labour.
Sir Keir Starmer will do just fine.
“Sir Keir Starmer will do just fine.”
For Sir Keir Starmer and the LFI, not the the general public.
I got this sent to me in FB
link to facebook.com
Biased Broadcasting, Banks & Companies-BBBC
stShp2ons3horiead ·
THE SNP has emailed all of its donors in a bid to “quash rumours” that money supposedly ring-fenced for indyref2 has already been spent.
It comes after the Electoral Commission published the SNP’s 2019 accounts late last night.
The paperwork reveals that the party has just under £97,000 in the bank, despite two major fundraising drives for an indyref2 fighting fund.
However, the SNP treasurer, insists that there is £593,501 in the “Referendum Appeal Fund” which is ready to be deployed “instantaneously”.
The pro-independence Wings Over Scotland blog has long accused the party of having spent the money “on something else.”
This morning, in an unprecedented intervention, the SNP’s treasurer, Colin Beattie wrote to all donors.
He said: “I felt it was important for me to get in touch today to quash rumours spreading on social media about one of our fundraising appeals.”
Beattie insisted the funds “remain earmarked for the referendum and are ready to be fully deployed at a moment’s notice”.
He added: “Since becoming national treasurer, I’ve worked hard to ensure ongoing prudence and financial control, striving to use your donations in the most effective and efficient ways possible.
“The current strength of our financial position, for example, enabled us last year to win a landslide in the General Election, secure our best European election result ever, and contest a parliamentary by-election.
“All three of these events were unforeseen, but thanks to donors like you and our inherent financial strength we were able to allocate £1.4 million at short notice to contest these elections.”
He said the pary had moved “from being heavily in debt” to “operating in the black and with zero commercial borrowing.”
“And that’s why I simply will not have this hard-won progress trashed,” he added.
“Like all other political parties, the SNP does not separate out restricted funds in annual accounts. Any such donations are woven through the overall income figures each year.
“The Referendum Appeal Fund has a current balance of £593,501 and we can fully deploy those funds instantaneously – guaranteeing maximum impact when vital funds are needed most.
“I’ll leave our opponents to the social media conspiracies, but I wanted you to get the facts direct from me.”
Jason Smoothpiece says:
29 October, 2020 at 3:52 pm
Republicofscotland
You say Corbin was a threat to Independence, yes I agree his socialist ideas would have attracted many in Scotland.
He was not evil enough to watch the right wing and deal with the many right wingers which are now in Labour.
Sir Keir Starmer will do just fine.
He will indeed.
I suggest the algorithm that surrently replaces T and Q words replace ‘Sir Keir’ with ‘Blair’.
I cannot see what harm or hate it would provoke.
@Skip_NC
I am a CA and member of ICAS, you may be right about the Audit fee being high because of extra work is records are shoddy. However, its not something ICAS would be interested in as it is between Auditor and client and quite common. SNP Members should be asking why the fee is high.
If these SNP politicians are the best Scotland has to offer (and i don’t see any suitable replacements) they are running their party and the Country into the ground. Why does anyone think it would be better if Scotland gets Independence?
For weeks and months, Stu, Craig Murray & others have said how Sturgeon & Murrell are lying yet they cant be removed. Add in Humza Hate Crime and GRA reform and why on earth will people vote for these charlatans next year. You don’t have anyone better so i would rather we leave Independence until the next generation in 20 years time. And before anyone says Joanna Cherry- she isnt the saviour you crave. She didnt stop Brexit and couldnt get selected for Holyrood. She also thought James Rennie raping a baby boy was ‘unfortunate’ and didnt want to help investigate LGBT Youth Scotland.
Look, if a political organisation such as the SNP receives £1/2 million in cash receipts (that’s what a fundraiser is) & it adheres to accounting practices and the law, then no matter what it was used for; to pay off an overdraft, settle a debt, finance gender studies classes, meet legal expenses, etc, the amount must appear somewhere as a cash receipt; also known as a revenue, sales or turnover.
A business collects money invariably in return for a product or service. Here it was specifically collected in return for an independence referendum campaign; a service if you will.
If the money is instead held in a slush fund or in an “off the books” account, then that is plainly illegal.
If you believe that they do not have an illegal account, then the money is either in their primary account or it isn’t. The only way that it can no longer be in the legal account is because it was spent on something else like virtue signalling assignments, gender identity training or something.
And since the 2019 accounts clearly show net current assets of only £272,000, then the only conclusion anyone with half a brain can reach is that the indyref fundraising money has been spent.
So everyone who donated has been taken for fools led by the one and only, Nicola (It wiznae me) Sturgeon.
All clear now?
You don’t have anyone better so i would rather we leave Independence until the next generation in 20 years time. And before anyone says Joanna Cherry- she isnt the saviour you crave. She didnt stop Brexit and couldnt get selected for Holyrood.
Somerled, you are at the end of a thankless shift.
Go home to those you pretend to protect.
We are in it for the species!
@Breeks, 10.40
Thanks for the advice regarding reading an article behind a paywall.
@MaggieC, 11.56
Thanks for posting the draft minutes from the Harassment Complaints Committee. It made for instructive reading. From their testimony, it is clear that the two senior Civil Servants had no awareness that applying a Code of Conduct retrospectively was unfair and would cause legal problems for the organisation raises the question of the competence of the two officials.