THE former treasurer of the SNP will take on the role following Douglas Chapman's resignation.

READ MORE: Douglas Chapman steps down as SNP treasurer citing lack of 'financial information'

Colin Beattie was in charge of the party's finances from 2004 until last November, when members voted to replace him with Chapman at the party's internal contest.

He and Chapman were the only candidates for the post.

A SNP spokeswoman said today: "As with past practice, where a vacancy arises during the year, the next placed individual from the conference ballot will take on the role."

The SNP's National Executive Committee has lost several other members following a number of defections to the Alba Party.

The National:

Colin Beattie, was SNP's national treasurer from 2004 to 2020

Those vacancies were filled by the votes from the November contests being recalculated, with the runners up elected onto the party's ruling body. 

"Usually the votes are recalculated from conference ... but as Colin was the only other contender he will be offered the position," a senior insider told The National.

"If he says yes, he will be treasurer. If he says no, then the national secretary Stewart Stevenson will make a recommendation to the NEC to co-opt someone on.

"There is only three months to party conference anyway so they don't want to hold a fresh set of elections."

The National:

Douglas Chapman quit as SNP national treasurer on Saturday

Chapman announced his resignation last night claiming he was not given enough information to do the job.

The MP for Dunfermline and West Fife, said: "Despite having a resounding mandate from members to introduce more transparency into the party's finances, I have not received the support or financial information to carry out the fiduciary duties of National Treasurer.

"Regretfully I have resigned with immediate effect."

It is not clear what led to Chapman's decision, but SNP business convener and fellow MP Kirsten Oswald said she "fundamentally disagrees" with Chapman's assessment.

Also on Twitter, she wrote: "I am disappointed by Douglas' decision and, as business convener, fundamentally disagree with his assessment of the support and financial information available to him.

"However, I respect his decision, thank him for his contribution to the NEC (National Executive Committee) and whish him well.

"SNP national treasurers have access to detailed financial information and report to the NEC on a monthly basis.

"The NEC can request any additional information it requires.

"The SNP's accounts are also independently audited, submitted to the Electoral Commission and published."

Earlier this month, Rhiannon Spear and Fiona Robertson joined the SNP NEC as national women's and national equalities conveners respectively after the previous post holders Caroline McAllister and Lynne Anderson defected to Alba.

McAllister and Anderson beat Spear and Robertson in the November contests. But when the November votes were recalculated omitting McAllister and Anderson, Spear and Robertson won the contests.

Meanwhile, John Swinney has said Police Scotland are not investigating the SNP's finances following Chapman's resignation.

The MP for Dunfermline and West Fife announced he had resigned as national treasurer of the party on Saturday evening, claiming he was not given enough information to do the job.

Questioned on BBC Scotland's The Sunday Show about whether Police Scotland was investigating "£600,000 of SNP funds that was raised by activists and campaigners and perhaps diverted elsewhere?", the Deputy First Minister replied:

"Not to my knowledge, no."

He added: "I don't understand quite what's prompted this. The National Executive Committee has responsibility for scrutinising the party's finances... and in addition to that the accounts of the party are independently audited by external auditors and are submitted to the Electoral Commission for scrutiny.

"So there's a huge amount of scrutiny of party finances that goes on."

Last month, Police Scotland sources told the Scottish Mail on Sunday the force had investigated complaints into the SNP, but found "no immediate evidence of fraud".

The party said at the time the allegations were part of a "dirty tricks campaign" and "utterly baseless".