Peter Murrell, former SNP chief executive, pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party over a 12-year period. He spent the money on a motorhome, cars, and hundreds of other items including jewellery and luxury goods, with some gifts reportedly going to Nicola Sturgeon. Murrell is expected to receive a lengthy jail sentence next month. Calls were made for a Holyrood inquiry into the matter, focusing on the party’s culture and decision-making processes. An inquiry was rejected by John Swinney, who said a parliamentary inquiry could not add value after a five-year forensic police investigation that led to prosecution and a guilty plea.
"Murrell, who was SNP chief executive between 2001 and 2023, admitted that he had embezzled more than 400,000 from the party over a 12-year-period. He spent the money on a motorhome, cars and hundreds of other items including jewellery and luxury goods, some of which were gifted to Sturgeon. Murrell is due to be sentenced next month."
"Sarwar told MSPs: "Yes, Peter Murrell is responsible for his crimes, but secrecy and cover-up go far beyond one individual or one case. "At its heart is an SNP culture where secrecy became normal, dissent dangerous, and people learnt that speaking out carried a heavy price, all while those at the top of the SNP machine operated without scrutiny." He said that an inquiry would "look at the culture, the process of decision-making, and lessons for the future"."
"But Swinney rejected that call, accusing Sarwar of "victim blaming". He told parliament: "I do not think there is anything a parliamentary inquiry can add to a five-year forensic police investigation that has resulted in the successful prosecution of an individual and his guilty plea." The first minister reiterated his condemnation of Murrell's crime and said he was "appalled" by his co"
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