SNP whistleblowers were 'intimidated' for raising finance concerns

June 25, 2026 - 20:02

Two former senior staff members of the Scottish National Party have come forward with allegations that they were subjected to intimidation after raising serious concerns about the party's financial management. Cynthia Guthrie and Allison Graham, both of whom served in auditing roles, stated that they faced deliberate obstruction when attempting to carry out their duties.

In a joint statement, Guthrie and Graham said they were blocked from accessing key financial records and were effectively prevented from performing a proper audit of the party's accounts. They described a working environment where raising legitimate questions about spending and financial controls was met with hostility and pressure. The two women claim that their efforts to flag potential irregularities were dismissed, and that they were ultimately pushed out of their positions.

The allegations come at a time when the SNP is already under intense scrutiny regarding its finances, following the ongoing police investigation into the party's fundraising and spending. The whistleblowers' account paints a picture of a culture where internal oversight was actively suppressed. They argue that their experience is not an isolated incident but reflects a broader pattern of resistance to financial accountability within the party hierarchy. Neither Guthrie nor Graham specified exact sums or named individuals, but they insisted that the intimidation they faced was real and damaging. The SNP leadership has yet to issue a detailed response to these specific claims.