Overview
- Murrell admitted in Edinburgh High Court to embezzling £400,310.65 from the SNP and is remanded ahead of a sentencing hearing on June 23.
- A Crown narrative read on Tuesday detailed how Murrell used falsified invoices, SNP charge cards and direct bank transfers to make 1,066 unauthorised purchases over 2010–2022.
- Prosecutors said the money came principally from membership fees, donations and legacies while noting that some payments flowed through accounts that also received Electoral Commission grants which are separately audited.
- As long‑serving SNP chief executive Murrell had direct access to the party’s accounting system and main bank account, allowing him to disguise personal buys as leadership, legal or campaign costs.
- Political pressure is growing for an independent inquiry chaired by an external KC after First Minister John Swinney acknowledged weak cash controls but resisted a parliamentary probe, while prosecutors have flagged possible asset‑recovery action.