Ian Blackford has defended the SNP’s decision to select candidates for May’s European elections, saying it would “irresponsible” not to.
The SNP Westminster leader refuted accusations that the move was a “waste” of party funds, despite the elections being eight weeks after the UK’s current legal departure date.
Mr Blackford, speaking to the Press and Journal, pointed to Theresa May’s decision this week to offer MPs the chance to extend Article 50 on March 14 as evidence the UK could well be in the EU long after the elections.
He said: “We have a responsibility to make sure that we are prepared for any outcome, nobody knows what will happen.
“If we have an extension of Article 50 beyond the European elections then it may well be the case and I would put it that we then have an election for MEPs throughout the UK.
“It would not be responsible of us not to think through the implications of that and not to have an element of preparedness and this is an element of preparedness.”
Pressed on whether the selection was a waste of party funds, he said: “No, this is not something that is a misuse of party funds or party resources.”
According to figures released by the electoral commission this week the SNP received £15,240 in donations in the final three months of 2018, compared with £950,272 given to the Lib Dems and £48,541 given to the Scottish Green Party.