SNP denies financial crisis as large donations dry up

Published on 16/11/2005 01:17

THE Scottish National Party last night rejected suggestions that it faces a financial crisis, after official figures showed that it declared no donations from individuals or companies in the latest reporting period.

The Electoral Commission said that in the third quarter of this year, the SNP declared 56,988 of donations, all of it public funds made available to support opposition parties at Westminster and Holyrood.

The SNP has suffered financial troubles in recent years. Annual accounts published in July showed its debts standing at 181,000.

Despite the apparently bleak picture painted by yesterday's figures, the SNP last night insisted that its fundraising is extremely healthy.

Peter Murrell, the party's chief executive, said almost 130,000 had been received in individual donations, but in amounts too small to be registered.

"These donations simply don't show in the Electoral Commission figures, as no donations over 5,000 were received," he said.