No evidence of misuse of stamps for election mail

There is no evidence MSPs or their staff made inappropriate use of Scottish Parliament expenses to purchase stamps for general election campaign purposes, an investigation has concluded.

The probe followed an anonymous complaint submitted to Presiding Officer Alison Johnstone that SNP MSP staff members had bought stamps which were then passed on to election candidates.

The complaint was accompanied by screenshots of a WhatsApp chat in which SNP staff were discussing the purchase and use of stamps paid for through the expenses scheme.

But the Scottish Parliament Corporate Body (SPCB) has concluded there was no evidence the stamps were used inappropriately.

Ten MSPs and their staff were interviewed at the end of June relating to the investigation. The SPCB has confirmed the members had provided reassurances that stamps were not given to others for election purposes.

A parliament spokesperson said: “Following a thorough investigation, officials have found no evidence that stamps were used inappropriately. Therefore, no further action is required.

“Ahead of the next session the SPCB will carry out a review of stamp purchasing, as part of its sessional review of the members’ expenses scheme, to ensure the current approach is the most suitable.”

MSPs have a budget of £5,500 to spend on postage and stationary via the SPCB. These must be used “only for parliamentary duties and must not be used for any other purpose, including party political purposes”, according to parliamentary rules.

The complaint was received by the presiding officer on Thursday 20 June. Interviews with MSPs took place between 21-26 June.

The screenshot was shared from the WhatsApp messages of SNP office managers. All staff identified in the screenshot were contacted, along with their employing MSP.

A paper produced by the SPCB on the investigation states: “All members confirmed that they had discussed the matter with their office staff and were assured that any use of parliamentary purchased stamps had purely been for parliamentary purposes and that no stamps had been passed to others to use in election campaigning.

“This was reconfirmed in writing by all in agreeing to each meeting's summary note.”

The report confirms particular consideration was given to messages from the WhatsApp chat referring to traceability, people being in front of the SPCB, and using stamps for campaigns.

It is understood the reference to being brought before the SPCB was “lighthearted and jokey and a warning to individuals that if they did misuse any stamps that is what would happen”, while the reference to campaigns was understood to mean local campaigns, not the election.

The reference to traceability, the SPCB were told, was about mail being set from a location outwith a members’ constituency.