A timeline of shifting explanations for the SNP's missing indyref2 fund ended the day after a guilty plea — when the First Minister finally admitted what the money was really for all along.
For the sake of open free governance of Scotland Mr Swinney should be leaving his post. Taking with him his ‘kilt’edged pension. Thereafter, some ‘Skull’ thuggery down the line to take over?
A good post, Dean, but misses a key timeline issue. The Rev. Stuart Campbell of Wings over Scotland game identified in the 2018 accounts that there was only (from memory) £67,000 held in cash. The £667,000 indy fund had already evaporated whereas Murrell's embezzling didn't start racking up significant sums until 2019.
Good point. Murrell has confessed to embezzling since 2010 and only 400k. So, given the statements by McCann (2021), Beattie (since 2020) that all that money was *still there* AND the SNP in 2017 DENIED publicly Scottish Labour's public allegations they spend the original 400k on GE2017...it seems something is still amiss here. Cherry is correct, there simply must be a full and complete public inquiry. Power to compel, testimony under oath - and that ought include COPFS btw.
▶️Murrell loans party money June 2021— Sturgeon since claimed "what he does with his money is a matter for him"
▶️Ian MacCann - 30 June 2021 ringfenced money all still there!
▶️Colin Beattie (returns as SNP Treasurer after Chapman resigned citing blocked from doing his job) shift language from his "ready to deploy" circa 20 Oct 2020 to "independence related campaigning"
▶️Swinney today — June 3 2026 echoed Beattie's new claim
Hi Dean,Three finance members and the National Treasurer resign and we’re supposed to believe that Nicola didn’t find that alarming even when he stated he was obstructed
Honestly can’t see how any of the party leadership can stay in their role. One thing that does also need to be looked into was the role of the Crown Prosecution service, who took 4 years to get to this point, which seems to stretch all credibility.
I am starting to feel a little sorry for Peter Murrell. He has done the crime and now must do the time but he has the air of a stupid wee laddie who got in far too deep. His story feels like one of George Simenon novels. They are about ordinary people getting into extraordinarily bad situations one horrible step at a time. Try them.
Agreed, there is much more to this whole sorry mess than Peter Murrell's terrible behaviour. It should be noted that I've been told by a number of credible sources that Murrell got into a spot of bother with antics back when Salmond was leader, Alex - it has been told to me - put the money back from his own pocket. And had apparently wanted him moved off his role, but left the leadership before he could do so.. Murrell seems to have been enabled for a very long time after Salmond left the leadership.
That story about Salmond might well account for Murrell's particular animus towards him.
It would be very useful to look at the democratic failings, from a modern constitutional point of view. You could start with Knox, Buchanan through Locke (A posh English rip-off of Buchanan IMHO!) and the US founding fathers. It does rather look like someone had their hands too close to too many levers and others appear to have sleep walked (or is it reward walked) through their solemn duties. The lack of overall perspective from our politicians who debate like Old Firm football supporters in a pub. The seeming;y significant infestation into the civil service.
And the cost to the people of Scotland in terms of money, education, health all for this?
There is a "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" knocking about in this. The overall tragedy, the human failings of underlings cast to the machine, the utter wasteful futility of it all. Moments of dark comedy in a Shakespearean tragedy. The inevitability of the mix of various players' personal failings leading inevitably to the final scenes. We are now maybe in Act 3 as the gangster farce gives way to the more chilling elements. It is very expensive and wasteful theatre though.
But hey we will be paying bawbees for this for a long time to come. We might as well settle in for Act three where I suspect Honest John will be an early loss. But will the leaves of Dunsinane forest ever fall off the Alphabetties?
There were moments on that BBC interview where I felt real blows and hurt were getting significantly closer.
It was obtaining money fraudulently it seems. The lack of governance and financial control is beyond Peter Murrell's crimes and as far as we can tell remain.The party lied to funders who deserve an explanation.
You are so on it Dean. This surely must merit an independent investigation.
Plenty of grounds for a full and independent public inquiry - statements under oath, power to compel. But Honest John doesn't seem to think so.
For the sake of open free governance of Scotland Mr Swinney should be leaving his post. Taking with him his ‘kilt’edged pension. Thereafter, some ‘Skull’ thuggery down the line to take over?
A good post, Dean, but misses a key timeline issue. The Rev. Stuart Campbell of Wings over Scotland game identified in the 2018 accounts that there was only (from memory) £67,000 held in cash. The £667,000 indy fund had already evaporated whereas Murrell's embezzling didn't start racking up significant sums until 2019.
Good point. Murrell has confessed to embezzling since 2010 and only 400k. So, given the statements by McCann (2021), Beattie (since 2020) that all that money was *still there* AND the SNP in 2017 DENIED publicly Scottish Labour's public allegations they spend the original 400k on GE2017...it seems something is still amiss here. Cherry is correct, there simply must be a full and complete public inquiry. Power to compel, testimony under oath - and that ought include COPFS btw.
Worth highlighting:
▶️Beattie Oct 28 2020- Indyref2 "ready to deploy"
▶️Chapman resigns - can't do my job 29 May 2021
▶️Swinney claims to not understand 30 May 2021
▶️Murrell loans party money June 2021— Sturgeon since claimed "what he does with his money is a matter for him"
▶️Ian MacCann - 30 June 2021 ringfenced money all still there!
▶️Colin Beattie (returns as SNP Treasurer after Chapman resigned citing blocked from doing his job) shift language from his "ready to deploy" circa 20 Oct 2020 to "independence related campaigning"
▶️Swinney today — June 3 2026 echoed Beattie's new claim
Swinney didn't understand? But now he does, aye?
Hi Dean,Three finance members and the National Treasurer resign and we’re supposed to believe that Nicola didn’t find that alarming even when he stated he was obstructed
Yes, that is precisely what Nicola wishes you to believe, and John Swinney (at the time deputy FM). I told GBN I did not believe her story one bit (my short video in article here: https://deanmthomson.substack.com/p/nobody-asked-nicola-sturgeon-to-apologise
Honestly can’t see how any of the party leadership can stay in their role. One thing that does also need to be looked into was the role of the Crown Prosecution service, who took 4 years to get to this point, which seems to stretch all credibility.
I am starting to feel a little sorry for Peter Murrell. He has done the crime and now must do the time but he has the air of a stupid wee laddie who got in far too deep. His story feels like one of George Simenon novels. They are about ordinary people getting into extraordinarily bad situations one horrible step at a time. Try them.
That analysis also requires other "factors".
Agreed, there is much more to this whole sorry mess than Peter Murrell's terrible behaviour. It should be noted that I've been told by a number of credible sources that Murrell got into a spot of bother with antics back when Salmond was leader, Alex - it has been told to me - put the money back from his own pocket. And had apparently wanted him moved off his role, but left the leadership before he could do so.. Murrell seems to have been enabled for a very long time after Salmond left the leadership.
That story about Salmond might well account for Murrell's particular animus towards him.
It would be very useful to look at the democratic failings, from a modern constitutional point of view. You could start with Knox, Buchanan through Locke (A posh English rip-off of Buchanan IMHO!) and the US founding fathers. It does rather look like someone had their hands too close to too many levers and others appear to have sleep walked (or is it reward walked) through their solemn duties. The lack of overall perspective from our politicians who debate like Old Firm football supporters in a pub. The seeming;y significant infestation into the civil service.
And the cost to the people of Scotland in terms of money, education, health all for this?
There is a "The Resistible Rise of Arturo Ui" knocking about in this. The overall tragedy, the human failings of underlings cast to the machine, the utter wasteful futility of it all. Moments of dark comedy in a Shakespearean tragedy. The inevitability of the mix of various players' personal failings leading inevitably to the final scenes. We are now maybe in Act 3 as the gangster farce gives way to the more chilling elements. It is very expensive and wasteful theatre though.
But hey we will be paying bawbees for this for a long time to come. We might as well settle in for Act three where I suspect Honest John will be an early loss. But will the leaves of Dunsinane forest ever fall off the Alphabetties?
There were moments on that BBC interview where I felt real blows and hurt were getting significantly closer.
Keep up the good work.
It was obtaining money fraudulently it seems. The lack of governance and financial control is beyond Peter Murrell's crimes and as far as we can tell remain.The party lied to funders who deserve an explanation.
What a complete set of numpties.