Exclusive:'Gravy bus' ex-SNP candidate Sally Donald told to repay £20,000 in benefits
Sally Donald has been told she owes Social Security Scotland £20,000 in benefits
A rising star SNP candidate who stepped down due to a benefits fraud probe has been told to pay back nearly £20,000.
Sally Donald, who once joked on social media of being “aboard the SNP gravy bus”, was investigated by her party’s own social security agency.
The Scotsman can now reveal she is liable to pay back £19,000 in Adult Disability Payment (ADP) she was not entitled to.
Ms Donald has strenuously denied any wrongdoing but announced the end of her candidacy for Edinburgh Southern just hours after the investigation details emerged.
She will now have the option of appealing the findings, which may also still be referred by Social Security Scotland to the Crown Office.
The 32-year-old told constituents in a social media post she is “regrettably” stepping away from the Holyrood campaign.
She was approached for comment.
The alleged fraud total emerged as First Minister John Swinney - who was guest of honour at the would-be parliamentarian’s adoption meeting - claimed he was unaware of the benefits probe.
Under questioning from Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, Mr Swinney told MSPs at First Ministers Questions he only became aware of the situation when The Scotsman asked his party for comment.
He insisted the investigation into Sally Donald, who quit as an SNP candidate on Wednesday, showed the system is working.
Scottish Conservative social security spokesman Alexander Stewart MSP said: “This disgraced SNP candidate must do the right thing and repay the huge sum of money she wrongly claimed from the taxpayer.
“The fact that she was able to milk the Nationalists’ benefits system for so long exposes how soft touch it is.
“The SNP’s tick-box set-up is not fit for purpose.”
Questions were also asked about £1280 raised from SNP party members for Ms Donald’s election fighting fund.
However, it is understood the money has already been used for the SNP Edinburgh Southern campaign so far.
Ms Donald stepped down from her Holyrood campaign writing on Instagram: ”While I strenuously deny any and all wrongdoing, I do not want recent reporting to distract any further from the excellent campaign being run in Edinburgh Southern.”
We revealed on Wednesday how Ms Donald was being investigated by Social Security Scotland over the wrongful claiming of Adult Disability Payment (ADP).
Scottish Labour Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie said "These jaw-dropping revelations show that the SNP simply don't think the rules apply to them.
"John Swinney must come clean and explain exactly what he knew and when.
"Scotland deserves to know what safeguards are in place to stop people making false claims at Social Security Scotland.”
A spokeswoman for the SNP last night repeated a comment issued on Wednesday.
She said: “Sally Donald has informed local members of her decision to no longer stand as a candidate.”
In an infamous incident in 2022, Ms Donald posted a picture on social media of herself with Nicola Sturgeon’s battlebus and the words “All aboard the gravy bus".
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Ms Donald, a political staffer who has worked for multiple SNP MPs, is believed to have been in receipt of the payment for several years.
ADP was devolved from the DWP to the SNP’s own benefits agency in 2022.
It can be worth up to £10,000 a year tax free and Ms Donald is believed to have been in receipt of the benefit for several years.
The payment is an in-work benefit awarded to people who need help with everyday tasks such as eating, washing, managing toilet needs or engaging socially with other people in person.
She currently works for SNP Moray West, Nairn and Strathspey MP Graham Leadbitter and has previously spoken publicly about living with autism and severe anxiety.
Social Security Scotland was approached for comment.