Natalie McGarry suspended from the SNP after withdrawing the party whip

Natalie McGarry has been suspended from the SNP after withdrawing the party whip, following a Police Scotland investigation into alleged financial discrepancies involving donations to Women for Independence (WFI).

WFI was forced to contact Police Scotland after identifying a discrepancy between the income it received from donations and its expenditure. The alleged discrepancies occurred between 2014 and March 2015.

McGarry, who insists she has done nothing wrong, said she was resigning the party whip because the story was distracting from her job as an MP.

RELATED CONTENT

Nicola Sturgeon faces calls to suspend Natalie McGarry after Women for Independence financial allegations

The revolution will not be televised

Solicitor Aamer Anwar released a statement on the MPs behalf.

It said: “Natalie McGarry MP has decided to withdraw from the party whip although she is fully aware that this will lead to automatic suspension from the SNP; She has taken this step in the best interests of the party and the constituents of the East End who voted for her. 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.

“Fortunately in our legal system we still believe in a presumption of innocence. What has been reported to Police Scotland are financial discrepancies, yet they have not even established whether criminality is involved.

“Yesterday at Natalie’s request I contacted Police Scotland to advise them that she would speak to them if they wished to. Today I have instructed forensic accountants to obtain all the necessary information which will then be provided on Natalie’s behalf to WFI as well as Police Scotland to assist them in reaching a swift conclusion, until that happens Natalie will on legal advice be making no further comment. She will continue to fight for the people of the East End.”

Reports in The Guardian suggested that McGarry was allegedly the only person with access to WFI’s PayPal account, which was used to collect the donations. The newspaper also reports that it is this account is where the alleged discrepancies have reportedly arisen.

However, Holyrood understands that alleged discrepancies involving the Paypal account were not the only basis for WFI’s concerns, with a source close to WFI stating that the group’s wider financial records including emails and bank statements were assessed by two auditors and a lawyer before the case was referred to Police.

Today Labour MSP Jackie Baillie wrote to the First Minister, calling for McGarry to be suspended from the SNP, and asking when the party first became aware of the allegations.

Sturgeon told the BBC she would consider action against McGarry, but would first need more information.

She said: “Right now, beyond the generality of those concerns, I don't have detail about the basis or the substance of them.

“But I will consider and continue to consider the matter very carefully and if there is action I think the SNP are required to take then that action will be taken.”

WFI released a statement saying: “Women for Independence has been and is supported by hundreds of women and men who have donated to our work. We know that those people will share our profound disappointment that this situation has arisen.

“The situation we have referred to the police for further inquiry is serious but we want to stress to our supporters that appropriate, robust and transparent controls are now in place to protect any monies donated to WFI now or in the future. We hope that our members and supporters are reassured that Women for Independence have acted promptly and taken the appropriate steps.”