RISING support for independence has seemingly been good for Scotland in Union.
Just last year the finances of the country’s most prominent anti-independence campaign slumped to a record low, but as the SNP’s popularity has grown, so too has the money in the Unionist group’s coffers.
In accounts for the last financial year, Scotland in Union had funds of just over £122,000. In the previous financial year they had £62,000 at the bank.
It’s still considerably lower than three years ago when they had funds of more than £310,000.
Scotland in Union was set up in the wake of the 2014 referendum to campaign against a possible second independence referendum.
Their first accounts, filed with Companies House, showed that they had £91,362 on November 30, 2015.
It then enjoyed a fruitful year thanks to a series of high-end fundraising events, including a lavish dinner and auction, with lots including stays in luxury African safari lodges and Alpine ski chalets.
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On November 30, 2016, they declared funds of £313,283.
By St Andrews Day 2017, Scotlands in Union’s funds were down to £169,989.
A year later it reported funds of just £62,529.
But the most recent accounts show that by November 2019 – just nine days ahead of the General Election in which the SNP won 48 of Scotland’s 59 constituencies – they had £128,735, offset by creditors of £6987, leaving funds of £122,559.
A spokesperson for Scotland in Union told The National: “We hugely appreciate all the donations we receive from people who do not want to see another divisive independence referendum and know that we are stronger together as part of the UK.
“These figures reflect the continued growth of our campaign in 2019 in response to the SNP’s renewed attempts to divide Scotland – something it has started to do once again as we emerge from lockdown.
“With polls showing that people see independence as a distraction from what really matters – the NHS, education and jobs – our campaigning is now more important than ever.
“Our registered supporter base has risen to a record 32,000 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.”
Keith Brown MSP, the SNP’s depute leader, said the group was funded by a “few mega-rich donors”.
He said: “The polls now show Yes is the clear majority view in Scotland.
“More and more people are realising that Scotland needs the full powers of an independent country to runs its own affairs, tackle poverty and create a fairer society.
“The ultra-Unionist Scotland in Union are dependent on a few mega-rich donors to spread its fears and smears.
“The SNP is rocket fuelled by our mass membership and tens of thousands of small donations, keeping us campaigning for independence and our ideas for a better future.”
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Last week a poll commissioned by the pro-independence Business for Scotland put support for a Yes vote at 55%, with 45% backing No, flipping the result of the 2014 referendum.
A separate poll by Savanta ComRes, released on the same day, put support for independence at 54% and for staying part of the UK at 46%.
That poll also suggested that the SNP is on course to dominate next year’s Holyrood election by winning 51% of the constituency vote and 43% per cent on the regional list.
Polling had generally remained stable after the 2014 referendum, with a few exceptions.
They then tightened to become almost neck-and-neck at the start of this year.
Since then six polls have now put Yes ahead.
Peter Duncan, a former Tory shadow secretary of state for Scotland, recently told The Sunday Times it was wrong for Unionists to keep saying no to indyref2.
“A ‘no, never’ approach will fan the flames for independence, as the smarter advisers in Downing Street are now making clear,” he said.
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