SNP accused of buying charity loyalty with billions

TL;DR

A Sunday Times investigation claims the SNP uses billions in public funding to charities to suppress criticism of its policies on gender, drugs, alcohol, and sexual violence.
Scottish charities get £6 billion total income yearly, with only 11% from donations versus 47% from government grants and contracts including over £1 billion from the SNP government.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/snp-shuts-down-criticism-charities-funding-vjcrjw096)
Charities fear losing funds if they criticise the government, turning them into proxies that back SNP positions.

The story at a glance

A Sunday Times investigation by Daniel Sanderson accuses the SNP of funding charities heavily to ensure they support its policies and avoid criticism. It centres on examples like Professor Sarah Pedersen resigning from a women's charity chair after funding threats over her gender-critical views, and charities like Scottish Drugs Forum receiving £1.2 million plus £762,000 in grants. The story is reported now amid ongoing debates over Scotland's drug deaths, gender policies, and the SNP's long rule ahead of May elections.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/snp-shuts-down-criticism-charities-funding-vjcrjw096)

Key points

Professor Sarah Pedersen, 60, resigned as chair of an unnamed Aberdeen women's charity in 2021 after its Edinburgh office warned that her gender-critical social media posts, including retweeting Johann Lamont, risked Scottish government funding cuts; the charity's £3 million budget was 75% government-funded.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/snp-shuts-down-criticism-charities-funding-vjcrjw096)
Scottish charities rely more on government money than those in England or Wales: £6 billion total income, 11% from donations/legacies, 19% grants and 28% contracts from public bodies, including £1 billion+ from SNP government, £250 million quangos, £1.6 billion councils.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/snp-shuts-down-criticism-charities-funding-vjcrjw096)
Former SNP minister Alex Neil said governments under Salmond and Sturgeon asked "friendly" charities for supportive statements on controversial policies, with implied links to their funding dependence.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/snp-shuts-down-criticism-charities-funding-vjcrjw096)
SNP-backed Rape Crisis Scotland got £5 million yearly; a £250,000 anti-harassment campaign was dropped at government request before Alex Salmond's 2020 trial, funds repurposed; some local centres split over gender policies, facing funding shortfalls.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/snp-shuts-down-criticism-charities-funding-vjcrjw096)
On drugs policy, amid Europe's highest death rate, Scottish Drugs Forum (SNP-aligned on harm reduction) received £1.2 million grants + £762,000 traineeships (two-thirds income); Scottish Recovery Consortium got £745,000 grants vs £124 donations in 2024.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/snp-shuts-down-criticism-charities-funding-vjcrjw096)
Funds like Equally Safe and Equality & Human Rights have been automatically renewed since 2021 without new applications, favouring government-chosen groups.[[2]](https://www.instagram.com/p/DWf9nenDXus)
First Minister John Swinney denied shutting out women's groups; SNP says funding follows budgets for frontline services.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/snp-shuts-down-criticism-charities-funding-vjcrjw096)

Details and context

The article draws on anonymous charity sources and Pedersen's account to argue no explicit threats occur but heavy reliance—up to 90% revenue for some—creates self-censorship. Unlike England, Scottish charities lack rules barring use of public funds for lobbying or punishment for criticism.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/snp-shuts-down-criticism-charities-funding-vjcrjw096)[[3]](https://www.thetimes.com/comment/the-times-view/article/charities-scotland-snp-p77nvjhth)

This fits broader SNP controversies: stalled gender reform bill, record 2,000+ annual drug deaths despite £250 million National Mission since 2021, and rape crisis strains with 42% demand rise in Glasgow.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/snp-shuts-down-criticism-charities-funding-vjcrjw096)

Funding goes via grants/contracts for services like violence prevention, but critics say it amplifies SNP views while starving dissenters, e.g., recovery-focused groups vs harm reduction advocates.

Key quotes

Pedersen: “They just said, ‘Look, the Scottish government may not fund your branch if she continues as chair.’ ... There is a major problem in that charities in Scotland are so reliant on the government for funding.”[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/snp-shuts-down-criticism-charities-funding-vjcrjw096)
Alex Neil: “When the government is announcing a policy that might be controversial ... they will do a phone round of friendly organisations asking them to issue statements in support ... people are frightened to say no.”[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/politics/article/snp-shuts-down-criticism-charities-funding-vjcrjw096)

Why it matters

Heavy government funding risks turning independent charities into extensions of SNP policy, stifling debate on failures like drug deaths and violence services. Taxpayers face concrete costs via Barnett formula transfers, with uneven service funding hurting survivors and users who need critical voices. Watch SNP responses, Holyrood inquiries, or May election pledges, though charities' anonymity limits quick change.[[3]](https://www.thetimes.com/comment/the-times-view/article/charities-scotland-snp-p77nvjhth)