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Police find no criminality in Yes Scotland finances

Phil SimScotland political correspondent
News imageGetty Images Blair Jenkins, is wearing a dark suit, white shirt and purple tie. He is smiling and has his arm around actress Elaine C Smith who is laughing. Dennis Canavan stands to his right, and is smiling and clapping. They are standing in front of a cheering crowd of people with Yes campaign banners Getty Images
Blair Jenkins, pictured with Elaine C Smith and Dennis Canavan in 2014, was chief executive of the Yes Scotland campaign

Police say they have "not identified any criminality" following a complaint about the finances of independence campaign group Yes Scotland.

In July, a Sunday newspaper published claims by an activist that it was not known how income of more than £1.5m had been spent.

However, Police Scotland say the information passed to them has been assessed and does not warrant further inquiries.

Those behind Yes Scotland always maintained that there had been no wrongdoing.

The organisation, which was launched by former SNP leader and First Minister Alex Salmond to campaign for independence ahead of the referendum, has not been active since 2014.

'Misunderstanding of accounts'

The Sunday Mail first reported on an allegation that it was not known how income of more than £1.5m had been spent by the organisation.

The newspaper said the complaint was made by David Henry, who was one of those whose concerns about the SNP's finances led to the Operation Branchform investigation and the eventual conviction of former chief executive Peter Murrell.

Lawyers for former Yes Scotland chief executive Blair Jenkins said the allegations were false and that all the organisation's income had been fully accounted for.

Yes Scotland then handed over its full accounts to police.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We received information which was assessed and nothing was identified which would warrant further investigation."

A letter to those involved, seen by BBC Scotland, states that "based on currently available information we have not identified any criminality in respect of the finances of Yes Scotland Ltd".

It added that "there will be no police investigation at this time".

Aamer Anwar, solicitor for Jenkins, said the original story had been based on "a very basic misunderstanding of accounts".

He said that "what followed was a desperate attempt to link Peter Murrell's criminal conduct to the financial affairs of Yes Scotland Ltd".

"Mr Jenkins is grateful to Police Scotland, but is sorry they were forced to waste valuable resources and time on such spurious and unfounded allegations," he added.