Missing Cash Inquiry: MP Withdraws From SNP Whip

An SNP MP at the centre of a police investigation into missing funds has withdrawn from the party whip.

Natalie McGarry maintains she is not guilty of any wrongdoing in connection with financial discrepancies in the accounts of Women For Independence (WFI), a group set up prior to Scotland's 2014 referendum.

Ms McGarry was one of the organisation's founding members. WFI has called in the police over discrepancies between donations received and money spent.

It is understood the missing cash amounts to tens of thousands of pounds.

Following a 48-hour period in which the SNP faced calls from opponents that she be suspended, Ms McGarry's solicitor Aamer Anwar said: "Natalie McGarry MP has decided to withdraw from the party whip although she is fully aware that this will lead to automatic suspension from the SNP.

"She has taken this step in the best interests of the party and the constituents of the East End who voted for her.

"She maintains she has done nothing wrong but is conscious that the events of the last 48 hours are distracting from the job she was elected to do on behalf of the SNP.

"She has a proud record as a principled activist and states she is determined to clear her name.

"Fortunately in our legal system we still believe in a presumption of innocence. What has been reported to Police Scotland are financial discrepancies, yet they have not even established whether criminality is involved."

Previously, the WFI had issued a statement which said: "We have identified an apparent discrepancy between our income (via donations) and the expenditure which we currently have evidence of.

"Because of the potential seriousness of this issue, the national committee of WFI decided that the right thing to do was to pass this matter to the police."

Ms McGarry was elected as the MP for Glasgow East at the last election, one of 56 triumphant SNP MPs.

That number has already been reduced to 55 after Michelle Thomson MP was suspended from the party amidst police enquiries into alleged irregularities surrounding property deals.

Mrs Thomson denies any wrongdoing.

In response to Ms McGarry withdrawing from the party whip, Scottish Labour's public services spokesperson Jackie Baillie said: "Natalie McGarry is right to resign the SNP whip.

"It is disappointing that as the leader of the SNP Nicola Sturgeon didn't act earlier.

"We now need to know who knew what, and when, in the SNP about these allegations.

"Nothing short of full transparency from the SNP will be accepted by the Scottish public."