Theresa May accused of SNP 'smear'

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The SNP have demanded an apology from Theresa May after the Prime Minister said the party had been investigated for its election spending.

After the prosecutor decided Conservative MPs would not face charges for breaking election spending rules in 2015, May said: "Actually if we look at the expenses issue, we have seen all the major parties and the Scottish nationalists being fined for mistakes having been made on national expenses."

The claim was denied by the Electoral Commission.

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“The Commission has never fined the Scottish National Party for any breaches of the party campaign rules at any election," a spokesman said.

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon tweeted that May "should apologise for this attempt to smear the SNP - unlike Tories, we abide by rules."

SNP MP Pete Wishart, added: “Unlike the Tories, who were hit with a record fine, the SNP has stuck to the rules and never been fined.

“Theresa May has got this wrong, and should apologise for the catalogue of financial failures by Tory HQ.”

Sturgeon had previously claimed May had called the election to divert attention from the inquiry.

Meanwhile, Sturgeon also said Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson was "embarrassed" to talk about the record of the UK Government.

"No matter what the occasion, the only thing the one-trick Tory party can talk about is independence," she said.
 
“Ruth Davidson is clearly embarrassed whenever she has to defend the Tories’ record in Government at Westminster – whether it is cutting Scotland’s budget or shameful policies like the rape clause – but it is issues like these which are being raised on the doorsteps and will be decided in the next Parliament.
 
“We know what the Scottish Tories are against – but what are they for?"