Full Breakdown
Yes Scotland Provides Full Financial Records After £1.5 Million Allegations
7/15/2026, 1:23:13 AM
Core Event
Yes Scotland, the organization that campaigned for a “Yes” vote in the 2014 Scottish independence referendum, has voluntarily supplied Police Scotland with its complete accounts for 2013-2015. The hand-over follows a formal complaint lodged by former SNP branch secretary David Henry, who alleged that more than £1.5 million of the group’s 2013 income could not be accounted for.
Background & Context
Yes Scotland Ltd was launched by former SNP leader and First Minister Alex Salmond to run the official independence campaign. Although legally separate from the SNP, the two entities shared personnel and resources. In 2023, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell pleaded guilty to stealing over £400,000 of SNP funds, a conviction that has intensified scrutiny of any organisation linked to the party. Henry’s complaint, submitted in June 2024, seeks to determine whether similar misconduct occurred within Yes Scotland’s finances.
Data & Statistics
- Donations received (2013): £2,403,976, recorded as “other income.”
- Year-end surplus (2013): £878,978.
- Operating costs (2013): £1,535,855, covering staff salaries, Glasgow headquarters expenses, campaign events, publications and other outlays.
- Merchandise profit: £10,857.
- Accounts supplied: Full signed accounts for 2013, 2014 and 2015, prepared by accountants Johnston Carmichael, were delivered to Police Scotland on 13 July.
Official Statements & Responses
Lawyer Aamer Anwar, representing former Yes Scotland chief executive Blair Jenkins, characterised the allegation as “a very basic misunderstanding of accounts and Yes Scotland’s financial statements.” He affirmed that “all of the income received by Yes Scotland is fully accounted for and it is grossly defamatory to say otherwise.” Anwar also stressed that “to be clear, there is no ‘missing’ £1.5 m,” adding that the figure simply reflects campaign spending.
Blair Jenkins himself reiterated that the “alleged ‘missing’ £1.5 m … is due to a ‘basic misunderstanding’ of accounts” and asserted that Peter Murrell never accessed Yes Scotland’s funds.
Police Scotland confirmed receipt of the dossier and stated that the information “is being assessed.”
Criticism & Opposition
David Henry, the complainant, argued that “the numbers don’t match up anywhere and there are a host of other anomalies identified in my evidence.” He highlighted a note in the 2014 accounts indicating that “directors have reviewed the accounting treatment of donations received… resulting in deferred income being reduced from £878,978 to £nil and increasing other income by £878,978.” Henry maintains that the “other income” line disappears from subsequent accounts, fueling his suspicion that the money is unaccounted for.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
The primary discrepancy centers on the treatment of the £2.4 million “other income” entry. Yes Scotland’s lawyers explain that, as a small company, it filed “abbreviated accounts” that present only a balance sheet, omitting detailed income and expenditure breakdowns. Henry contends that the absence of a repeat “other income” entry in later filings suggests a lack of transparency. No independent audit findings have been released, leaving the factual gap unresolved pending police review.
Verbatim Quotes
- “This story was based on a very basic misunderstanding of accounts and Yes Scotland's financial statements,” — Aamer Anwar, solicitor for Blair Jenkins
- “All of the income received by Yes Scotland is fully accounted for and it is grossly defamatory to say otherwise.” — Aamer Anwar
- “To be clear, there is no 'missing' £1.5m,” — Aamer Anwar
- “He told the Sunday Mail newspaper: “The numbers don’t match up anywhere and there are a host of other anomalies identified in my evidence and major corrections appeared in the 2015 accounts.” — David Henry
What’s Next
Police Scotland’s assessment of the submitted accounts is ongoing. No further statements have been scheduled, and the investigation’s outcome will determine whether any criminal or regulatory action will follow.
