John Swinney says SNP leadership election is being conducted '100 per cent' properly

dailyrecord.co.uk:

The SNP leadership race is being conducted “100%” properly, Deputy First Minister John Swinney has said.Two of the three campaigns for the leadership – those of Kate Forbes and Ash Regan – have called for an independent audit of the vote to provide confidence to party members.Swinney, a former SNP leader who backs Humza Yousaf for the top job, said “I don’t know what all this is about”, after Forbes’s campaign manager pushed for an independent body to be brought in “without delay”.A senior adviser to Regan’s campaign said such a move would provide “reassurance” to party members and the public.Michelle Thomson – who is running the Forbes campaign – said some concerns are “based on hearsay or are from bad faith actors”, but she added: “However, others are being openly expressed by individuals within the SNP of longstanding.”She argued that the fact questions are being asked at all “can only further undermine trust in SNP HQ”.She added: “We all agree that the party must unify around any newly elected leader.“I have asked that the SNP appoint a robust, experienced, third-party auditor of both the ballot processes and the eventual tally of the vote.

This third party must have full oversight of all membership numbers, data and processes.“This should be done without delay.”Kirk Torrance, who is advising Regan, said on Twitter: “Independent auditors will give reassurance to the SNP members and the general public that this ballot is conducted properly.

This should have been the case from the outset.”The election process is being carried out by Mi-Voice, an election services firm based in Southampton.Thomson said the SNP is “ultimately accountable and responsible for many of the processes, oversight and ultimate integrity of the