SNP MP at centre of missing donations claim withdraws from party whip
Natalie McGarry has become the second SNP member of Parliament to resign the party whip amid allegations of corruption.
Edinburgh West MP Michelle Thomson withdrew from the party whip in September when it emerged that Police Scotland was investigating 13 property deals to which she was linked. Thomson has denied any wrongdoing.
Critics of the party have been quick to point this out.
Here’s a tweet from Owain Gardner: “At this rate we’ll be back at Salmond being the only SNP member by 2020.”
Pro-UK Scottish blogger Effie Deans took a darker tone: “We now have two SNP MPs who have resigned the whip because of alleged corruption, but in today’s Scotland we must keep silent about it.”
Now, why would that be?
The SNP MP at the centre of allegations that tens of thousands of pounds in donations may be missing from the pro-independence campaign group she helped to set up has withdrawn from the party whip but insists she is determined to clear her name.
Natalie McGarry said that she had taken the step in the best interests of the party and the constituents of Glasgow East who voted for her. According to the party’s constitution, it will lead to automatic suspension from the SNP.
In a statement issued on her behalf on Tuesday evening, McGarry’s lawyer, Aamer Anwar, said: “She maintains she has done nothing wrong but is conscious that the events of the last 48 hours are distracting from the job she was elected to do on behalf of the SNP. She has a proud record as a principled activist and states she is determined to clear her name.”
Questions have been raised about the role played by McGarry after Women for Independence (WFI) contacted the police on Sunday night because they believed substantial amounts were missing from the group’s donation income.
The Guardian understands it has been alleged that McGarry was the only person with access to the PayPal account used by WFI to collect the donations and from which it is believed the alleged discrepancies have arisen.
Source: SNP MP at centre of missing donations claim withdraws from party whip | Politics | The Guardian
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Mike I just wonder if this is part of a dirty tricks campaign. Unionist Parties to quote a more usual term up North have no love for the SNP. From what I have read the Police were alerted by an un-named Person. Anyway we shall soon find out if she is guilty.
“Pro-UK Scottish blogger Effie Deans took a darker tone: “We now have two SNP MPs who have resigned the whip because of alleged corruption, but in today’s Scotland we must keep silent about it.””
The pro-UK says it all about the purpose of her post. I would also like to know what she means by us having to keep silent about it. What tosh! It is in the papers, both the unionist MSM and the pro-Indy National, so Scots of all persuasions know about it and are discussing the possibilities. The only difference with The National is that it follows my view of innocent till proven guilty whereas the others base their stories on assumed guilt, to suit their aims.
McGarry has done what I hoped earlier yesterday and resigned the whip. I will still await the outcome of the investigations before spouting an opinion not yet based on fact. I hope she is cleared of wrong-doing, obviously, but if not, so be it.