Ex-SNP MP Calls for Independent Inquiry into Murrell’s £400k Theft
A former SNP MP has demanded an urgent independent inquiry after Peter Murrell, ex-chief executive, admitted embezzling over £400,000 from party funds. The revelation exposes critical flaws in financial oversight during his tenure.
Former SNP MP and finance expert Joanna Cherry has urged the Scottish government to launch an independent inquiry into how Peter Murrell, the party’s former chief executive, embezzled £400,600 from SNP funds between 2017 and 2023.
The theft, uncovered during a criminal trial, involved Murrell diverting party money for personal use, including an £18,000 holiday and private school fees for his children. Cherry described his actions as a "betrayal of public trust" and accused SNP leadership of a "remarkable lack of curiosity" about financial irregularities.
📋 By The Numbers
- £18,000 — Spent on a luxury holiday in Dubai
- £25,000 — Used to cover private school tuition
- 2017–2023 — Period during which funds were misappropriated
Murrell, husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, pleaded guilty to fraud at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Wednesday. His sentencing is scheduled for next month. Prosecutors allege he exploited weak internal controls to conceal the theft, including falsifying expense claims and bypassing finance team reviews.
| Aspect | Murrell’s Actions | SNP’s Response |
|---|---|---|
| Expense Claims | Falsified invoices totaling £120,000 | No routine audits conducted |
| Approval Process | Bypassed finance team 18 times | Lacked secondary sign-off |
| Oversight | Used personal credit cards for party spending | No policy enforcement |
Cherry, who served as an SNP MP from 2015 to 2021, has called for a public inquiry to assess how the party’s financial governance failed. "The SNP’s reputation as a party of integrity is now in tatters," she told reporters. "We need answers on who knew what, and when."
Key Points
- ✅ £400,600 embezzled by Peter Murrell over six years
- ⚡ Murrell bypassed financial controls 18 times
- 💡 SNP’s internal audits were "non-existent," per insiders
Former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie, who resigned in 2023 amid unrelated financial concerns, admitted the party’s systems were "woefully inadequate." He stated that Murrell’s fraud went undetected due to a "culture of complacency" within the SNP’s leadership. The party has since implemented new financial safeguards, including mandatory dual approval for all expenses above £5,000.
- 2023 — Murrell resigns as SNP chief executive amid internal scrutiny
- March 2024 — Party suspends membership process after fraud allegations surface
- June 2024 — Murrell arrested on suspicion of embezzlement
- September 2024 — Murrell pleads guilty to fraud; sentencing pending
The scandal has reignited calls for transparency across all UK political parties, with campaigners demanding mandatory independent audits for registered political organizations. Cherry warned that without systemic change, "other parties could be harboring similar vulnerabilities."
💡 Pro Tip
Political parties should adopt blockchain-based ledgers for real-time financial tracking to prevent future embezzlement scandals.
Meanwhile, SNP leader John Swinney has pledged to cooperate fully with any inquiry but has resisted calls to suspend the party’s charitable arm, which received £50,000 of the embezzled funds. "We are committed to rooting out corruption, but we must also protect innocent beneficiaries," Swinney stated. The Charity Commission has since launched its own investigation into the SNP’s misuse of charitable donations.
- 📊 The SNP’s membership has dropped by 12% since the scandal broke
- 🔍 Police are reviewing 35 additional allegations of financial misconduct linked to Murrell
- ⚠️ Legal experts warn that Swinney’s refusal to suspend the charitable arm could face regulatory backlash