John Swinney says ring-fenced independence fighting fund was used for ‘SNP activities’

First Minister John Swinney has said money donated for a “ring-fenced” independence fighting fund has been used by the SNP for party activities.

More than £660,000 was raised through donations between 2017-19 to help support a second referendum campaign.

The spotlight has once again fallen on what happened to the money following the guilty plea by former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell who embezzled £400,000 from the party.

While the fundraised money has not been mentioned by prosecutors in that case, it was the reason police initially began looking at the SNP's finances in 2021. 

Asked about the ring-fenced funds in an interview with LBC, Swinney said: “That money is part of the resources that are available within the Scottish National Party to support its independence objectives and the SNP is the party of independence and that’s what we campaign for – we just campaigned for Scottish independence at the Scottish Parliament elections.”

Asked if he was saying the money had already been spent, he added: “I’m saying it’s part of the ongoing activities of the Scottish National Party and we’re the party that campaigns for independence.

“We just fought an election campaign where we had a very strong anchoring of our campaign for independence. If that’s not the use of the resources, then I’m not sure what the resources are for.”

The SNP leader would not be drawn on whether any of the money was used to reimburse the Weirs, the independence-supporting couple who loaned money to the SNP after winning a £161m Euromillions jackpot.

Scottish Labour said Swinney’s remarks were a “stunning admission” that money raised from members was not ring-fenced for a future independence referendum.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “SNP members and supporters donated their hard-earned money believing it would be used for a future referendum campaign. John Swinney has now admitted that it became part of the SNP’s general resources.

“People will rightly ask whether they were misled. They will rightly ask why the SNP continues to resist scrutiny. And they will rightly ask why John Swinney is so desperate to avoid a full inquiry.”