Humza Yousaf admits crisis-hit SNP might miss May 31 accounts deadline
Crisis-hit SNP ‘could lose £1.3m public funding’: Humza Yousaf admits party will struggle to appoint auditors in time for May 31 accounts deadline – as he again demands Rishi Sunak gives go-ahead for Scots independence referendum
The crisis-hit SNP faces missing out on more than a million pounds in public funding as Humza Yousaf admitted the party will struggle to finalise its accounts by the end of next month.
The Scottish First Minister has conceded it will be ‘challenging’ to arrange auditors in time to meet a deadline of May 31.
The comments came on a visit to London last night, where he met Rishi Sunak face-to-face for the first time and brazenly demanded another Scottish independence referendum despite the ongoing shambles.
Speaking to the BBC, Mr Yousaf said he is ‘going to work towards meeting the deadline’ but stressed: ‘It’ll be challenging. I won’t pretend otherwise.
‘There is the ability to ask for an extension if required. We’re not in that space yet.’
Humza Yousaf (left) met Rishi Sunak (right) face-to-face for the first time last night and brazenly demanded another Scottish independence referendum despite the ongoing shambles
The SNP’s Westminster leader Stephen Flynn said yesterday that the party is doing ‘everything possible’ to meet the deadline, but finding auditors for the group is proving difficult.
He revealed he only became aware of the lack of auditors on February 10, despite becoming the group’s leader in December.
Separate accounts need to be submitted for the Westminster group by May 31 in order to receive around £1.3million in ‘Short Money’ – public funding for opposition parties to carry out their parliamentary work.
The SNP as a whole is also lacking auditors, meaning the Electoral Commission could take action if accounts are not submitted on time.
It comes amid an ongoing police investigation into the SNP’s finances, which saw former chief executive Peter Murrell – Nicola Sturgeon’s husband – and treasurer Colin Beattie arrested earlier this month.
Both men were released without charge pending further inquiries.
Mr Sunak told Mr Yousaf to focus on people’s real priorities as he stood firm on blocking another referendum and SNP gender reforms.
During the talks, the Prime Minister said all levels of government across the UK should work together on issues such as the cost of living crisis.
The First Minister used the talks in Mr Sunak’s office in Parliament to demand a section 30 order which would allow Holyrood to legislate for an independence referendum and accused the UK Government of ‘attacks on devolution’.
Mr Yousaf, who was in London as a financial crisis engulfed his party, condemned the decision by the UK Government to block gender reforms, which he has confirmed he will challenge in the courts.
He also demanded an exemption from the UK Internal Markets Act for his Deposit Return Scheme (DRS), which has been delayed until next March.
The pair clashed on SNP overseas trips, with Mr Sunak defending Foreign Secretary James Cleverly’s decision to write to UK ambassadors demanding measures to stop Nationalist ministers pushing independence abroad.
The meeting was described as an ‘informal discussion’, which is why it did not take place at No 10.
Mr Flynn was asked about the Westminster group’s difficulty in finding auditors as he appeared on the Good Morning Scotland radio programme.
He said: ‘I thought it would be a relatively straightforward process to go and secure new auditors. That’s obviously proven not to be the case.’
The ‘short money’ allocation of taxpayer money for Opposition parties is due to be uprated by the headline CPI rate for December
This is partly due to the fact that the financial year is nearing its end, as well as the overall challenges in the party’s finances, he said.
He continued: ‘We need to have our accounts for Short money in place by May 31, I believe.
‘So every effort that can be made to ensure that happens is being made and, of course, we’re in contact with the House of Commons authorities meantime in relation to it.’
He said he understands the SNP will miss out on around £1.2 million in Short money if accounts are not submitted by the deadline, describing it as a ‘situation which is in a state of flux’.
Mr Flynn continued: ‘I wouldn’t want to incur any concern amongst staff that we aren’t going to be able to meet our deadlines.
‘We’re doing everything possible to ensure that that is the case.’
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