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POLICE probing an independence campaign group over missing cash have interviewed the office manager of SNP minister Humza Yousaf.

Shona McAlpine, who played a key part in the formation of Women for Independence (WFI), met with officers on Wednesday to provide information about accounting procedures amid allegations that £30,000 of donations had disappeared.

She is one of several prominent figures from the early days of the group who have spoken to police in recent days.

Glasgow East MP Natalie McGarry – a co-founder of WFI in 2012 – resigned from the SNP after the story alleging missing cash broke.

She was in charge of finance at the group until last spring but maintains her innocence and denies any wrongdoing.

The Record revealed last year that McGarry had paid the group around £6000 after becoming an MP, following months of questioning by senior WFI figures about the donation income.

But the WFI board later called in the police, who are expected to interview McGarry in the near future.

There is no suggestion that McAlpine – who is not an SNP member despite her job – is suspected of any wrongdoing.

And she publicly claimed McGarry is also blameless in the controversy.

In an extraordinary Facebook rant last November, she claimed WFI was full of “bullies” and that the embattled MP is innocent. She wrote: “I left WFI last year because of the bullying and horrible

attitudes of the egos in it.

“Sad to see it hasn’t changed, a far cry from the organisation that Natalie – who did not do this – me and a few others created.”

McGarry’s lawyer Aamer Anwar said last night: “We understand that the police are still carrying out initial inquiries to establish whether there is any alleged criminality. It would be no exaggeration to state that the shambolic accounting practices of WFI could mean we have to wait several weeks longer before we are any further.

“Ms McGarry absolutely maintains her innocence and will continue to fight hard for her constituents.”

McAlpine said she could not comment because of the police investigation.