They would not comment further on the exact details of the case.<\/span><\/p>\n Opposition parties this afternoon said there needed to be swift action by the party, branding the news a “concerning development”.<\/span><\/p>\n Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, said: “This is a concerning development which requires swift answers from the SNP and Nicola Sturgeon.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/b> “Scotland deserves better than the wave of scandals and distractions that have defined the SNP.<\/p>\n “We need a parliament focused on solutions – not a circus – and that’s why Scottish Labour are focused on delivering our national recovery plan.”<\/p>\n Alistair Carmichael MP, Scottish Lib Dem’s election campaign Chairman, said: “This is the latest story that shows something rotten in the state of the SNP.<\/p>\n “They have been in power too long and have taken the people of Scotland for granted.<\/p>\n “The various internal conflicts within the party are more important to them than the recovery.<\/p>\n “They now need to be removed and replaced by parties like the Liberal Democrats who will put recovery first.”<\/p>\n Miles Briggs, Scottish Conservative chief whip, said: “While we remain entirely focused on blocking a divisive independence referendum and building back from the pandemic, the Nationalists are at war with each other.<\/p>\n “Nicola Sturgeon’s SNP are no longer content with dividing our country as they turn on one other with increasing venom.<\/p>\n DON’T MISS: <\/strong> “These serious allegations of fraud must be fully investigated, without fear or favour, to establish if there has been any criminality.”<\/p>\n But an SNP spokesman this afternoon said it was an “utterly baseless” conspiracy theory.<\/p>\n The spokesman added: “There have been attempts for some time by opponents of the SNP to stir this up.<\/p>\n “It is part of an ongoing dirty tricks campaign and, like most conspiracy theories, utterly baseless.<\/p>\n “The SNP has no knowledge of any investigation but will be more than happy to set out the facts should questions be asked of us by any appropriate authority.<\/p>\n “The money raised has already helped us set up an Independence Unit, make other preparations for a referendum, and budget for £600,000 of independence related campaigning in the year ahead.”<\/p>\n <\/b><\/p>\n
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SNP branches receive public COVID19 money from Scottish Government [INSIGHT] <\/strong>
Sturgeon says return of Salmond ‘sends wrong message to women’ [REVEAL] <\/strong>
Sturgeon crisis: Unionists in tactical voting plot to take down SNP [LATEST]<\/strong><\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/cdn.images.express.co.uk\/img\/dynamic\/139\/590x\/secondary\/Miles-Briggs-2985695.jpg?r=1617466216719\")
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