No further police investigation into Yes Scotland finances

Police Scotland says complaint over £1.5m income based on 'misunderstanding of accounts'

By LineZotpaper

Published23 October 2026

Updated23 October 2026

Read Time2 min

Sources4 outlets

Police Scotland has found nothing to warrant further investigation into the finances of Yes Scotland, the campaign group that fought for Scottish independence in the 2014 referendum, following a complaint about how income of more than £1.5m was spent.

Police Scotland said information passed to them had been assessed and nothing was identified that would warrant further investigation. The decision follows a complaint, reported by the Sunday Mail in July, about how income of more than £1.5m had been spent by the organisation.

A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "We received information which was assessed and nothing was identified which would warrant further investigation."

The complaint was made after concerns raised by campaigners linked to the investigation into SNP finances. The Sunday Mail reported the complaint came from David Henry, while other reports name campaigners Sean Clerkin and David Hendry. Clerkin's earlier complaints sparked the Operation Branchform inquiry that led to the conviction of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell for embezzling more than £400,000 from the party.

Lawyers for Blair Jenkins, Yes Scotland's former chief executive, said the allegations were false and that all of the organisation's income had been fully accounted for. Solicitor Aamer Anwar said the original story was based on "a very basic misunderstanding of accounts" and was a "desperate attempt to link Peter Murrell's criminal conduct to the financial affairs of Yes Scotland Ltd".

"Mr Jenkins is grateful to Police Scotland, but is sorry they were forced to waste valuable resources and time on such spurious and unfounded allegations," Anwar said.

Yes Scotland, launched by former First Minister Alex Salmond, has not been active since 2014. The group handed its full accounts to police in July.

Analysis

Why This Matters

Closes a lingering question over how the 2014 independence campaign spent donations received from the public.
Separates Yes Scotland's financial affairs from the SNP's, which were the subject of the Operation Branchform investigation.
Clears former Yes Scotland chief executive Blair Jenkins of suspicion following months of public allegations.

Background

Yes Scotland was established to campaign for a "yes" vote in Scotland's 2014 independence referendum. It was publicly launched by former First Minister Alex Salmond and has been inactive since the vote. In July, a Sunday newspaper reported an activist's claim that it was not known how more than £1.5m in income had been spent. The group then handed its full accounts to Police Scotland, whose cybercrime and fraud unit carried out an assessment.

Key Perspectives

Blair Jenkins and his lawyers: Maintain there was no wrongdoing and say all income was fully accounted for, describing the complaint as based on a misunderstanding of accounts and an attempt to link him to Peter Murrell's criminal conduct. The campaigners who complained: Raised concerns that Murrell, later jailed for embezzling money from the SNP, may have had close control over donations coming into Yes Scotland. Police Scotland: Assessed the information provided and found no evidence of criminality, concluding that no further investigation was warranted.

What to Watch

Whether the complainants pursue any further action or release additional documentation.
Any separate inquiries into Scottish independence campaign finances that may emerge.
Anniversary coverage of the 2014 referendum that could resurface the allegations.

Sources

Police say no further investigation needed into Yes Scotland finances · Nation.Cymru
Police say no further investigation needed into Yes Scotland finances · The Irish News
Police say no further investigation needed into Yes Scotland finances · The Scotsman
No further police investigation into Yes Scotland finances · BBC Scotland

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 2 sources: 10 supported.

Show each claim

SupportedThere will be no further police investigation into Yes Scotland’s finances.BBC Scotland: “Police Scotland say the information passed to them has been assessed and there are no grounds for further inquiries.”
Partly supportedPolice Scotland said the complaint was based on a misunderstanding of accounts.BBC Scotland: “Aamer Anwar, solicitor for Jenkins, said the original story had been based on “a very basic misunderstanding of accounts”.”
Partly supportedThe complaint concerned how income of more than £1.5m was spent.BBC Scotland: “In July, a Sunday newspaper published claims by an activist that it was not known how income of more than £1.5m had been spent.”
SupportedA Police Scotland spokesperson said the information was assessed and nothing warranted further investigation.BBC Scotland: “A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “We received information which was assessed and nothing was identified which would warrant further investigation.””
SupportedThe Sunday Mail reported that David Henry made the complaint, while other reports named Sean Clerkin and David Hendry.BBC Scotland: “The newspaper said the complaint was made by David Henry”
SupportedClerkin’s earlier complaints sparked the Operation Branchform inquiry into SNP funds.Nation.Cymru: “Mr Clerkin, whose complaints sparked the Operation Branchform investigation into SNP funds, said at the time”
SupportedThe Operation Branchform inquiry led to former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell’s conviction for embezzling more than £400,000.BBC Scotland: “David Henry, who was one of those whose concerns about the SNP’s finances led to the Operation Branchform investigation and the eventual conviction of former chief executive Peter Murrell.”
SupportedJenkins’s lawyers said the allegations were false.BBC Scotland: “Lawyers for former Yes Scotland chief executive Blair Jenkins said the allegations were false and that all the organisation’s income had been fully accounted for.”
SupportedJenkins’s lawyers said all of Yes Scotland’s income had been fully accounted for.BBC Scotland: “Lawyers for former Yes Scotland chief executive Blair Jenkins said the allegations were false and that all the organisation’s income had been fully accounted for.”
SupportedAnwar described the original story as based on “a very basic misunderstanding of accounts”.BBC Scotland: “Aamer Anwar, solicitor for Jenkins, said the original story had been based on “a very basic misunderstanding of accounts”.”
SupportedAnwar called the story a “desperate attempt to link Peter Murrell’s criminal conduct to the financial affairs of Yes Scotland Ltd”.BBC Scotland: “He said that “what followed was a desperate attempt to link Peter Murrell’s criminal conduct to the financial affairs of Yes Scotland Ltd”.”
SupportedAnwar said Jenkins was grateful to Police Scotland but sorry officers had to spend resources and time on the allegations.BBC Scotland: ““Mr Jenkins is grateful to Police Scotland, but is sorry they were forced to waste valuable resources and time on such spurious and unfounded allegations,” he added.”