SNP MP resigns party whip amid police probe

More financial troubles for the SNP who are starting to fall into the same pattern after their big election breakthrough that Ukip previously fell into after its, namely a sequence of scandals involving newly elected politicians:

Natalie McGarry becomes the second Nationalist MP to effectively quit the party within months of being elected to Westminster.

She follows Michelle Thomson, who resigned the whip in September after police launched an investigation into property deals she was involved in before entering politics.

Glasgow East MP Ms McGarry co-founded Women For Independence during the Scottish referendum campaign.

It emerged yesterday that the group had contacted Police Scotland after uncovering a discrepancy between the donations it received and its expenditure between 2014 and March 2015.

Around £30,000 is allegedly unaccounted for. It has been reported that Ms McGarry was the only member of the group with access to its PayPal account, which was used to collect donations. She denies any wrongdoing. [PoliticsHome]

UPDATE: The Crown Office subsequently decided not to pursue charges against Michelle Thomson.