A "dark money" unionist group has been fined for failing to declare hundreds of thousands of pounds in donations to the Tories.
The Scottish Unionist Association Trust (SUAT) was required, as an unincorporated association, to formally notify the Electoral Commission of any political contributions of more than £25,000 in any calendar year.
Yet it failed to disclose donations worth £318,876 made to the Tories between April 2001 and February 2018.
And it didn't report two donations it itself received that amounted to £207, 350 (Morning Star 18/9/19).
The Electoral Commission has now fined SUAT £1, 800.
The Scottish Republican Socialist Movement notes the lack of transparency when it comes to the funding of unionist groups and their campaigning.
The SRSM deplores also the lack of real punitive action -the fines are paltry when compared to the sums involved.