John Swinney reveals 'personal horror' over Peter Murrell's embezzlement of SNP funds
John Swinney has apologised to SNP members impacted by Peter Murrell’s embezzlement of party funds and donations
First Minister John Swinney spoke of “overwhelming betrayal” and “personal horror” as he apologised to party activists who had their donations embezzled by Peter Murrell
Mr Swinney was speaking in Edinburgh on what he described as a “tough day” for the SNP after Murrell, the former party chief executive and husband of former leader Nicola Sturgeon, pleaded guilty to embezzling funds worth more than £400,000.
“I share the overwhelming angers shared by SNP members”, he said.
“Peter Murrell’s guilty plea confirms that the Scottish National Party has been the victim of embezzlement of hundreds of thousands of pounds of funds provided by SNP members.
“This is an admission of a terrible breach of trust and an overwhelming betrayal by the man entrusted to be the party’s chief executive.”
The SNP leader accused Murrell of “stealing the hopes, dreams and the aspirations of thousands of people all over Scotland”.
Former SNP MP Joanna Cherry, who lost her seat in the 2024 UK general election and has been highly critical of the party leadership, said Mr Swinney should resign over the episode.
But Mr Swinney said he had “no intention of doing that”, later telling The Scotsman that “I intend to lead the SNP for some considerable time to come”.
Asked if it was a mistake for the leader of the party to be married to the SNP chief executive, Mr Swinney stressed that it was “all about the behaviour of Peter Murrell”.
He added: “Individuals are responsible for their own conduct and their own actions.”
Mr Swinney told journalists that he believed that Ms Sturgeon was unaware of Murrell’s actions, pointing to “her personal agony about this”.
“If I feel as sore as I do today, I can’t begin to imagine how Nicola Sturgeon feels,” he added.
Mr Swinney said that he “never suspected anything” about her husband’s behaviour.
“I had no reason to suspect it,” he added.
“I can’t understand how you do this if you’re committed to a cause.
“The idea of doing something as damaging to the wellbeing of our cause as this, I just can’t fathom.”
Asked why he initially fell short of apologising to those SNP members who donated funds that were embezzled by Murrell, Mr Swinney said: “I’m sorry to people who are affected.”
He added: “But the person responsible for this is Peter Murrell. It’s not my conduct that’s got us to this situation, it’s Peter Murrell’s.”
Asked by The Scotsman how he felt on a personal level having known Murrell for many years, Mr Swinney said: “I am gutted by this today.
“This is a tough day, so the level of personal horror, betrayal that I feel, is difficult for me to properly convey to you.
“The one thing I’ve been unable to stop thinking about is the decent people who have stood with me at coffee mornings and jumble sales and thrift shops, raising the money and paying their money to party headquarters.”
Asked about the now infamous motorhome that Murrell bought with party funds, Mr Swinney said: “I’ve got no idea why a campervan was purchased.”
He added: “We just hired a bus for about two and a half weeks during the election campaign - that made sense to me.
“What we could have needed a campervan for is beyond me.”