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A HIGH-PROFILE independence campaign group were last night at the centre of a financial scandal after donations worth tens of thousands of pounds went missing.

Women for Independence called in the police after an internal audit showed cash raised by grassroots supporters was unaccounted for.

The group were set up in 2012 by a number of independence-supporting women, including SNP MP Natalie McGarry, former Scottish Socialist MSP Carolyn Leckie and Scottish Government special adviser Kate Higgins.

They won plaudits for motivating women to back independence despite traditionally lower levels of support than among men.

The group were one of the few pro-Yes grassroots organisations that stuck together after the No vote. They campaign for constitutional change and on women’s issues.

But last night they said they have called in police.

A statement said: “We have identified an apparent discrepancy between our income (via donations) and the expenditure which we currently have evidence of.

“Because of the potential seriousness of this issue, the right thing to do was to pass this matter to the police.” The financial discrepancies occurred between 2014 and their formal constitution at their first AGM in March.

Police said: “We can confirm a report has been received.”

It’s the second scandal to hit the indy movement in recent months. Michelle Thomson MP – the ex-boss of Business for Scotland – had the SNP whip withdrawn as police investigate property deals she was involved in.