THE finances of the group leading the charge against independence have slumped massively.
According to accounts lodged with Companies House this week, Scotland in Union’s capital and reserves have fallen in the last 12 months from £169,989 to £62,529, a drop of 63%.
Last year they saw their finances drop from £313,283 to £169,989. The SNP said the staunchly pro-UK organisation was on a "downwards slide into complete irrelevance."
It wasn’t that long ago that the group were able to rely on big money donors to keep them afloat.
Ahead of the 2017 election, they took in more than £300,000 at an auction at a slap-up dinner in Prestonfield House.
Diners were offered the chance to bid on prizes including a stay in a luxury chalet in the Swiss Alps, “A fabulous chalet and a family home, with six bedrooms sleeping 12, all en suite.
Other prizes included a four-day “extravaganza of polo and amazing parties in Jodhpur for two ... rubbing shoulders with the maharajah” and a “holiday of a lifetime” in a private game reserve in Botswana for 10 people.
Guests were also tempted with hind stalking near Fort William, a long weekend in Argyll blasting away at up to 40 birds such as partridge, pheasant, woodcock and snipe, and a week-long river holiday in Glen Lyon with six rods to fish salmon and trout.
A signed copy of a JK Rowling novel was also on offer, and diners were invited to part with £100 for a raffle ticket to win a Mini Cooper convertible.
However, months later details of the diners were sent to to pro-independence sites including The National, Wings Over Scotland and Bella Caledonia.
They were shared again not long after when the Electoral Commission accidentally revealed them in a Freedom of Information request.
The accounts - for the year ending November 2018, and signed off by group director Patrick Harkness - are the first set lodged with Companies House following that data breach.
SNP MSP George Adam said: "Just like their finances, what remains of Scotland in Union is on a downwards slide into complete irrelevance.
"And it's no wonder, with polls now showing a majority of people supporting independence.
"The scare stories no longer work, and it's clear Scotland in Union have no positive ambition for Scotland than meekly accepting whatever Brexit disaster the UK ends up in."
A spokesman for Scotland in Union said they had a record number of supporters.
He said:“We greatly appreciate all the donations we receive from those who do not want to see another divisive independence referendum and know that we are stronger together as part of the UK.
“With Nicola Sturgeon ramping up the threat of a referendum, these figures reflect the significant growth of our campaign footprint during this period, which has continued to expand in the months since then.
“We now have a record number of supporters and we’re delighted that so many people are helping us to spread the positive message about why we are better off in the UK to every part of Scotland.”
Last year, the group revealed that only “around 1 in 50” of the 25,000 supporters it claims made a financial contribution.
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