Nicola Sturgeon denies £600,000 has 'gone missing' from SNP accounts

The SNP leader was asked about the reports while speaking to STV, and insisted she had no concerns over her party’s finances.

Nearly £600,000 was crowdfunded by the party in a drive to raise cash for a future independence referendum campaign.

READ MORE: John Swinney says Police Scotland are not investigating SNP's finances

Former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie told donors in an email that the £593,501 in the Referendum Appeal Fund was “woven through” the accounts and remains ringfenced.

Police Scotland are assessing a complaint made to them about the funds, while the Electoral Commission and the SNP say they are not aware of any investigation.

The row over the cash has been brought to the forefront following two high-profile resignations from the party’s governing body, the NEC.

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

At the weekend Douglas Chapman quit as treasurer, announcing on Twitter: “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.”

This was followed days later by the resignation of Joanna Cherry QC from the NEC.

She said on social media: “I’ve resigned from the NEC of the SNP. A number of factors have prevented me from fulfilling the mandate party members gave me to improve transparency and scrutiny and to uphold the party’s constitution, I won’t be making any further comment at this stage.”

Last night Sturgeon sought to reassure party members, telling STV she was “not concerned” about her party’s financial situation.

“The finances of the SNP are independently audited, our accounts are sent to the Electoral Commission in common with other parties and of course published so there’s full scrutiny around that,” she told the broadcaster.

“Money hasn’t gone missing, all money goes through the SNP accounts independently and fully audited and we don’t hold separate accounts. We are under no legal requirement to do that. Our accounts are managed on a cash flow basis but every penny we raise to support the campaign for independence will be spent on the campaign for independence.”

Deputy FM John Swinney was also asked about the cash earlier this week following Chapman’s resignation. Asked if the £600,000 had been diverted elsewhere, he said: “Not to my knowledge, no.”

He went on: "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.”