Now call in watchdog to rule if SNP’s £20m ‘war chest’ is unlawful

PEERS are calling on the UK Government to refer the SNP’s £20 million independence ‘war chest’ to spending watchdogs.

So far the Nationalists have refused to reallocate the funds – set aside by Nicola Sturgeon’s government to organise Indyref 2 – to cash-strapped public services, even though the Supreme Court last month dashed their hopes of staging a second referendum.

Now Labour’s Lord Foulkes is leading calls for auditors to investigate whether or not the £20 million can lawfully be spent on promoting independence.

Last night the peer said SNP figures could even find themselves being pursued through the courts for any public money deemed to have been frittered on party political aims.

Lord Foulkes, a former Scotland Office Minister who has served as an MP and MSP, will lead a debate in the House of Lords on Wednesday on the Scottish Government’s plans for another referendum.

He said: ‘The Supreme Court decision [means] the referendum is clearly not going to take place and the UK Government is not going to allow it.

‘Therefore, the expenditure is really quite illegal. Spending British taxpayers’ money on an SNP party political campaign must be stopped. I know there is a strong feeling around the UK Government that they would like to do something… by getting an independent body to look at this expenditure and decide whether it is on the devolved area or the reserved area – and if it’s in the reserved area, that gives the UK Government the opportunity to stop it.’

He said the public ‘are getting fed up with money being spent on things that it shouldn’t be’, adding: ‘SNP Ministers are spending on offices around the world and travelling around the world and preparing for a referendum when there are homeless on the streets, when we have the highest drugs death rate in Europe, when there are ferries that can’t be completed, the A&E waiting time is growing, ambulances aren’t turning up on time and teachers are on strike.

‘They’re not doing the job they’re elected to do and paid to do.’

Former Scots MP and Liberal Democrat peer Lord Bruce said it was ‘only right that the Scottish Government co-operate with any investigation into the rationale for independence spending’ – and that ‘Nicola Sturgeon and her party should also refund every penny of taxpayer money that was wasted in bringing what was always a foregone conclusion to court’.

The independence of the Auditor General for Scotland is guaranteed by the Scotland Act.

The AGS has free rein to investigate the accounts of any Scottish Government department or quango. Last week, the present incumbent, Stephen Boyle, called for more transparency around how public money is used by SNP Ministers after identifying a £2 billion underspend in 2021/22.

Secretary of State for Scotland Alister Jack has already said the Cabinet Office is ‘keeping watch’ on how the civil service north of the Border is operating.

Scottish Conservative constitution spokesman Donald Cameron has sought ‘clarification on this matter’.

The Scottish Government said: ‘It is the role of the civil service to support the elected government of the day in developing and implementing its policies.’

‘With only ten minutes to kick-off, we regret to announce that in support of ambulance, rail, nursing and other UK strikers, the English squad have decided to join them.’

‘They’re not doing the job they’re paid to do’