Swinney Denies SNP Cover-Up Over Murrell's £400,000 Embezzlement as Opposition Targets Sturgeon
Updated
Updated · BBC.com · May 26
Swinney Denies SNP Cover-Up Over Murrell's £400,000 Embezzlement as Opposition Targets Sturgeon
9 articles · Updated · BBC.com · May 26
John Swinney told Scotland's parliament Peter Murrell's £400,310.65 embezzlement was a "terrible breach of trust" and rejected claims he was trying to bury the scandal.
Opposition MSPs pressed him after Murrell admitted stealing party funds over 12 years to 2022, using SNP money for hundreds of personal purchases including a luxury motorhome and two cars.
Rachael Hamilton said voters would question why Nicola Sturgeon faced no further action after the police probe, while Labour and Liberal Democrats accused the SNP of secrecy and failed financial oversight.
Sturgeon, Murrell's estranged wife, has denied wrongdoing and said she had no knowledge of personal items being bought with party funds; she was arrested during the investigation and later released without charge.
Swinney said the offending was Murrell's sole responsibility and insisted the public should trust police and courts to act impartially regardless of who is involved.
Can the SNP regain public trust after its top executive stole funds for over a decade?
How did a £400k embezzlement go unnoticed for 12 years within Scotland's ruling party?