Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Daily Record
Daily Record
National
Lucinda Cameron & Ruth Suter

Former SNP MP Natalie McGarry jailed for two years after embezzling thousands from pro-independence groups

Former Glasgow East MP Natalie McGarry has been jailed for two years after being found guilty of embezzling tens of thousands of pounds from pro-independence groups.

The 40-year-old was sentenced at Glasgow Sheriff Court today.

McGarry was accused of embezzling £21,000 while treasurer of Women for Independence between 2013 and 2015.

She was was accused of taking £4,661 between April 9, 2014 and August 10, 2015 when she was treasurer, secretary and convener of the Glasgow Regional Association (GRA) of the SNP.

The former SNP embezzled almost £25k from two pro-indy groups (PA)

A jury found her guilty by majority of a charge in relation to WfI and also by majority as regards the GRA-related charge in May.

Sentencing McGarry, Sheriff Tom Hughes said she had betrayed people who put their trust in her and that a custodial sentence was inevitable.

He told her: "It's quite clear that society has a right to expect the highest standards from those who seek and eventually achieve high public office."

He added: "Through your role in these offences, you have not only betrayed the trust placed in you by others, but your standards have fallen well short of those the public should have a right to expect from MPs."

Over the course of the six-week trial, the court heard from dozens of witnesses, including Scotland's former health secretary Jeane Freeman, who said she reported McGarry after noticing a significant shortfall in WFI accounts.

Ms Freeman said she had no idea donations made to the group's independence Crowdfunder were going from the organisation's PayPal account into McGarry's personal bank account.

The 40-year-old represented Glasgow East between 2015 and 2017 (PA)

She also voiced her frustrations at McGarry's delay in handing over receipts and invoices which would show what the funds had been spent on.

The court also heard from witnesses that McGarry had personal financial difficulties and regularly received loans from family and friends. That included from Humza Yousaf, the current Scottish Health Secretary, who gave McGarry £600 to prevent her from being evicted from her house.

The court also saw McGarry's bank records, which showed Crowdfunder donations from WFI being transferred to her own personal account.

It included £10,472.52 on April 29 2014 and a further £9,848.70 on November 12 2014 - which she used to pay for rent and shopping.

McGarry had said these were "legitimate" expenses which she had incurred and which she was reimbursing herself for.

McGarry was elected as an SNP member in 2015 but resigned the party whip after the emergence of fraud allegations - which she denied. S

She continued in Parliament as an independent MP representing Glasgow East but did not seek re-election in 2017.

Don't miss the latest news from around Scotland and beyond - Sign up to our daily newsletter here .

READ MORE:

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.