Police Scotland is investigating a complaint about missing money from Yes Scotland, the campaign group set up to push for Scottish independence before the 2014 referendum, BBC News reported on 5 July 2026.

Police Scotland confirmed they had received a complaint and that inquiries were ongoing. A spokesperson said: "We have received a complaint and inquiries are ongoing."

The complaint came from David Henry. He is the same person whose earlier concerns about the Scottish National Party's finances led to a major police investigation called Operation Branchform — which resulted in the conviction of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell in 2025.

Henry says Yes Scotland's money records do not add up. He told the Sunday Mail that between 2014 and 2016, Yes Scotland reported roughly £1.5m in income. But from 2016 onward, the accounts showed a zero balance. He believes that money "just disappeared."

Yes Scotland is now closed. Its last accounts show no money left in it. The group has not been active since the 2014 referendum.

The SNP — the Scottish National Party — said Yes Scotland was a completely separate organisation from the party itself. This legal distinction matters, though at the time the two worked closely together.

Yes Scotland responded by saying all the money was properly accounted for and there had been no wrongdoing.

It is important to be clear about where things stand. Police Scotland has only said that they received a complaint and are making inquiries. This is not the same as starting a formal criminal investigation, and it is nowhere near proving that any crime happened. Henry's track record — his complaints about SNP finances turned out to be correct — might make some people take his latest allegation seriously. But being credible is not the same as having proof. Police have said nothing yet about whether this complaint has real merit.

The broader context here is worth understanding. Yes Scotland was not just an SNP organisation. It was a cross-party campaign that included the Scottish Greens and others. The SNP kept the campaign at arm's length — a standard legal arrangement for a campaign group, though it looked odd given how closely the two worked together during the referendum.

The fact that Yes Scotland is now dormant and shows a zero balance will make it harder for police to trace where money went. Records from more than ten years ago may be difficult to find or piece together.

Former SNP leader Alex Salmond, who set up Yes Scotland, died in 2023. This means police cannot ask him directly about the money. Other people involved might still be questioned about how the finances were run, but Salmond's death does narrow down who can answer questions about decisions made at the top.

David Henry has made a habit of raising concerns about how money is spent in Scottish politics. Operation Branchform took several years from the initial complaint to charges being filed. If Police Scotland decides to formally investigate this complaint, the process could take a long time.

At Holyrood — the Scottish Parliament — this complaint will add to the political tension that already exists following the Peter Murrell conviction. Even though these are two separate matters, both touching on SNP finances, they will inevitably be linked in public conversation.