Forbes warns SNP ‘will be in trouble’ as crisis grips the party
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Highland SNP MSP Kate Forbes has warned that unless the party’s leadership takes decisive action over its finances then it “will be in trouble.”
Police are investigating how more than £600,000 in donations for a proposed IndyRef2 campaign has been spent by the party, sparking a major crisis after two top level officials were questioned by police.
Earlier this month Nicola Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell was questioned by police and there was a two-day search of the couple’s home and garden as well as the seizure of a campervan. This week treasurer Colin Beattie was also taken in for questioning.
Speaking to the BBC, Ms Forbes said people were watching the SNP “with astonishment” and party finance claims were “mind-blowing” adding that there was “time to sort it out”.
She later tweeted: “Important to say that various clips of me speaking to the BBC on air comes from a podcast arranged back in late March and recorded shortly after. Since then, a huge amount has happened, including the First Minister launching a governance review and a bold programme for government.”
Ms Forbes said: “I think we need decisive action or we will be in trouble. People are watching with astonishment but they want to see the leadership dealing with it and resolving it.
“Right now with questions over integrity, trust, transparency – I think voters are watching extremely carefully. There is still time to sort it out. But continuity won’t cut it.”
Ms Forbes’ thoughts were then echoed by her successor as finance secretary Shona Robison, who is also the Deputy First Minister. She said: “We’ve got to absolutely get our house in order, the public will expect nothing else, but meanwhile we also have to address some of those concerns that the public have about other matters like the cost-of-living crisis.”
An SNP spokesman said: “Under the fresh leadership of Humza Yousaf, the SNP has put in place the mechanisms to improve transparency and governance within the party.”
