Gambling watchdog widens inquiry election betting scandal

John Swinney has been dragged into an SNP election expenses row after one of his staffers claimed a “stamp fairy” was helpful to campaigning, Daniel Sanderson reports. 

The First Minister said on Sunday that he was “confident” public money had not been misused by his party, following allegations stamps funded by SNP MSPs’ Holyrood expenses had been secretly siphoned off for election mailshots in breach of strict rules.

Leaked WhatsApp messages between SNP MSPs’ staffers shows discussions over whether the origin of the publicly-funded stamps could be traced. A complaint, apparently from an SNP staffer, suggests they had been passed to Westminster candidates to target voters.

It emerged on Sunday that one SNP staffer had posted in a WhatsApp chat that they were “embarrassed to say I inherited a lot – and I mean a lot – of second class stamps”. 

An individual in Mr Swinney’s office replied: “The stamp fairy is very useful when it comes to campaigns!” The original poster then said they would “whisper the amount” of surplus stamps they had when they next met.

The Scottish Parliament has launched an inquiry into the possible misuse of parliamentary stationary, which MSPs are entitled to claim up to £5,500 per year for but must be used only for parliamentary duties.