Top of page caption: Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC
Average readership figures from Microsoft today: 13.6 K likes and 11.3K visits
by Bill Heaney
Russell Findlay today said that “people want to know why Nicola Sturgeon wasn’t in the dock beside her husband” as he demanded Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain publish all information relating to the Peter Murrell case.
At First Minister’s Questions, the Scottish Conservative leader accused John Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon of “enabling” the SNP’s former chief executive, who this week admitted embezzling more than £400,000 of party funds.
Findlay said Sturgeon had warned SNP members to stop asking difficult questions, while Swinney claimed the party’s finances were sound.
Under further questioning from Findlay, Swinney confirmed that the Crown had sought a confiscation order under the Proceeds of Crime Act to try to recover luxury stolen goods from Murrell and Sturgeon.
Swinney refused to say whether the SNP would pursue a civil claim for compensation against Peter Murrell. This would take priority over any proceeds of crime action.
And he also refused to answer whether the SNP had sought to review the Crown Office’s prosecution decisions.
Russell Findlay, right, said: “The Peter Murrell scandal isn’t just about the SNP’s toxic internal culture.
“This goes to the heart of government and Scotland’s justice system.
“John Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon didn’t stop Peter Murrell – they enabled him.
“Sturgeon warned SNP members to stop asking difficult questions, and Swinney assured everyone the SNP’s finances were sound.
“Their shield of protection gave Murrell a licence to steal.
“People want to know why Nicola Sturgeon wasn’t in the dock beside her husband.
“John Swinney must back our calls for the Lord Advocate to publish all information relating to this case. After all, he says the SNP is Murrell’s victim.
“The revelation that the Crown Office is seeking a confiscation order under proceeds of crime laws is welcome, but John Swinney failed to answer whether he will be seeking compensation directly from Murrell or whether the SNP sought to review the prosecution decision.”
Meanwhile, Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar, left, said: “John Swinney has been at the heart of the SNP for 30 years. Peter Murrell is responsible for his crimes. But secrecy and cover-up go far beyond one individual or case.
“At its heart is an SNP culture where secrecy became normal, dissent dangerous, and people learned that speaking out carried a heavy price.
“Yesterday, we called for a parliamentary inquiry as this is now a matter of public trust and integrity in office. John Swinney now refuses to back such an inquiry.
“This inquiry is to look at the culture, the process of decision making, and lessons for the future. It’s to answer the many questions that the public has.
“That requires light and transparency, not the usual John Swinney and SNP playbook to shut down or deflect. We’ve seen the dangerous outcomes of this culture:
“Victims who reported abuse by Patrick Grady were threatened with legal and disciplinary action. SNP officials silenced, bullied, and forced out by a First Minister for trying to reveal Murrell’s crimes.
“Female MSPs bugged by SNP staff and then ignored by party leaders.
“Seven North Lanarkshire councillors were forced out of the party for raising concerns about paedophile Jordan Linden. A culture that puts victims last, as if they are a threat to the cause.
“It is shocking that John Swinney will block an inquiry and instead will double down on protecting a culture that enabled a man he appointed to embezzle more than £400,000.”