SNP leader plays down fears party faces bankruptcy as Keir Starmer eyes ‘more than 20 seats’ in Scotland at election with independence-backing voters ‘switching to Labour’
Humza Yousaf has played down fears the SNP is facing bankruptcy – as Keir Starmer reaps the benefit from the party’s extraordinary meltdown.
The Scottish First Minister denied that the separatists are on the brink of collapse as he confirmed forensic auditors could be appointed.
Police are investigating the SNP’s finances in a probe which has involved former chief executive Peter Murrell – Nicola Sturgeon’s husband – being arrested amid a search of their home, then released without charge.
Sir Keir said he is determined to make a ‘strong showing in Scotland’ at the next general election, with sources suggesting the party wants to pick up more than 20 seats. Its tally in 2019 was just one.
Polling guru Professor John Curtice has underlined the threat to the SNP, warning that independence backers seem to be switching to Labour.
Humza Yousaf has played down fears the SNP is facing bankruptcy – as Keir Starmer reaps the benefit from the party’s extraordinary meltdown
Sir Keir (pictured campaigning in Great Yarmouth last week) said he is determined to make a ‘strong showing in Scotland’ at the next election, with sources suggesting the party wants to pick up more than 20 seats. Its tally in 2019 was just one
Speaking to reporters yesterday shortly after the SNP’s National Executive Council (NEC) met, Mr Yousaf said the body agreed to hold a governance and transparency review.
Questioned on speculation the party could be bankrupt, he said it is ‘solvent’ and bankruptcy had not been discussed at the NEC.
‘We’re not close to bankruptcy. This is something I’ve read in some social media circles but, no, the party is solvent,’ he said.
On the review, Mr Yousaf said: ‘We will ensure we have external input, particularly around the issues of financial oversight.
‘So, that may well be forensic accountants, it may well be some other means and method – but I think around the additional financial oversight, external input is really important.’
An interim report on the review is expected in June, with a full report due in autumn and the latter will be made public.
Mr Yousaf said the party is ‘desperate’ to appoint auditors. Last week it emerged he was unaware before becoming leader that the previous auditors resigned more than six months ago.
He added: ‘I’m not concerned about what they might find. I’m concerned about the fact that, from my perspective, we could improve our governance and our transparency and I’m concerned about the fact that in six months we haven’t been able to find auditors.’
Mr Yousaf was speaking at a campaign event in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West constituency, where the party could face a by-election.
Sitting MP Margaret Ferrier won the Rutherglen and Hamilton West seat for the SNP in 2019 – but was later found to have damaged the reputation of the Commons and placed people at risk by taking part in a debate and travelling by train while suffering from Covid-19.
If she is barred from the Commons for 10 days or more, that could trigger a recall petition, which would result in a by-election in the constituency – although 10 per cent of voters there would need to support this for it to go ahead.
Speaking to BBC Radio 4 programme Leading Scotland Where?, Sir Keir said Labour party needs to break the SNP’s dominance north of the border.
‘It matters to the Labour Party,’ said Sir Keir. ‘I want to be not the Prime Minister of the UK – but the Prime Minister for the UK.
‘That means a strong showing in Scotland, so we have that legitimacy.’
At the 2019 General Election, the SNP claimed 48 of the 59 seats – six of them taken from Labour who were left with just Edinburgh South.
Police are investigating the SNP’s finances in a probe which has involved former chief executive Peter Murrell – Nicola Sturgeon’s (pictured) husband – being arrested amid a search of their home, then released without charge
Labour sources feel they could claim more than 20 seats at the next election, but Sir Keir said the need to win seats was ‘not translated into a number’.
‘It does mean I need and want to be able to show that we have significant support in Scotland, as we do in Wales and will have across England,’ he said.
Prof Curtice told the Scottish Sun on Sunday that the SNP should be worried about the lack of any poll bounce after Mr Yousaf took over from Nicola Sturgeon – and signs that voters are switching to Labour.
‘The crucial thing going on is that this is happening despite the fact that support for independence is not falling.
‘The SNP’s problem is that they’re no longer commanding the support of Yes voters to the degree they’ve done at recent elections.’
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