SNP says cash-for-access claims are complete nonsense

Published on Sunday 28 June 2009 21:59

THE SNP has been forced to deny claims that it is offering access to ministers for cash.

It has been claimed businesses have been told that if they pay 1,000 to the party for the autumn conference in Inverness they will be able to meet ministers and possibly influence Scottish Government policy.

The claim appears to undermine the SNP's image of standing up for clean politics by leading the way on the cash for honours scandal when Western Isles MP Angus MacNeil reported the UK Labour Government to the police.

Mr MacNeil has also come under fire for his expenses claims after it emerged he received 1,700 for fencing around his property.

An SNP spokesman last night described the cash-for-access allegations as "complete nonsense".

"This is the normal business of parties charging organisations for stalls at a conference," he said.

However, Labour MP Gordon Banks said: "The SNP are actually selling access to their government ministers. It is an outrage and would make a banana republic blush."