The Final Robbery
So there it is. We did tell you so.
There will be no trial, no cross-examination, no explanation. The people of Scotland, the members and supporters of the SNP, the wider Yes movement, none of us will ever know what really happened. Ever get the feeling you’ve been cheated?
We’ll never find out how this could happen, for example.
But there we go. It’s more than six years now since Wings Over Scotland broke the story that hundreds of thousands of pounds were missing from the SNP’s accounts.
(Though so innocent were we at the time that we thought they’d at least been embezzled to be spent on the party’s political campaigning or paying off its debts.)
It’s five and a half years since our observation was proven right by the publishing of the party’s 2019 accounts, and its then-treasurer Colin Beattie responded by dismissing the allegation as a “social media conspiracy” and infamously said the money was “woven through” the accounts, presumably with invisible thread.
(Since despite this strident yet self-evident lie Beattie was released without charge, we must assume that he is innocent of any criminal wrongdoing and simply the worst, most jaw-droppingly incompetent treasurer an organisation ever had, unable to spot the best part of half a million quid vanishing into thin air on his watch.)
It’s more than five years since Wings exclusively broke the story that three members of the SNP’s Finance Committee had resigned after Murrell refused to let them examine the accounts to look for the missing money.
And since Nicola Sturgeon issued a dire warning to the rest of the NEC not to ask any awkward questions about the missing money or else.
And almost five years since then-SNP President Mike Russell furiously insisted that there was no money missing at all.
Parroting a line taken by Sturgeon two months earlier, in June 2021. (Perhaps some questions ought to be asked of those independent auditors at some point.)
It’s also more than five years since we told you (the following month) that the police were officially investigating our discovery.
And since Scotland’s media jeeringly rubbished the story.
It’s now more than three years since Murrell, Sturgeon and Colin Beattie were arrested in connection with the missing money.
And it’s more than three years since Murrell’s successor as CEO of the SNP, and former Daily Record editor, Murray Foote predicted that the investigation would result in no charges.
It’s a little under three years since the former editor of Scotland’s only pro-independence newspaper, Richard Walker, said it was all a lot of fuss over nothing and probably some sort of dastardly Unionist conspiracy.
Everyone whose job it was to tell you the truth lied to you. Except us. Peter Murrell was caught and is in prison today solely because of our story of January 2020, which the “trained journalists” of the Scottish media all missed when it was staring them blatantly in the face.
David Leask, may the good Lord bless him, still insists he was right.
And now some small measure of justice been served, too little and too late. Murrell’s thieving left the SNP crippled and all but bankrupt, the “ring-fenced referendum fund” lost forever, the independence movement a broken shell, the greatest chance there’ll ever be of securing Scotland’s nationhood blown in a reign of squalid petty theft, and we won’t even get to know how it happened as his rich still-wife, somehow ignorant of it all even as the shiny fruits of Murrell’s deception piled up in her kitchen, saunters off into the sunset, laughing at all the gullible suckers she left behind.
It’ll be interesting to see what sentence Murrell’s guilty plea – which spares Sturgeon her usual turn as a forgetful witness – gets him. We know Natalie McGarry got almost two years for embezzling £25,000 in very similar circumstances, so one would like to think that swindling 16 times as much would result in a significantly stiffer term.
But Scotland is so crooked after almost a decade with Mr and Mrs Murrell and their loyal appointees in charge that we’re not getting our hopes up.
The final vindication is of course nice. But ultimately, readers, this is, and now always will be, an untold story.
In every possible way, from start to finish, you got swindled.
Such a shame that organising honey traps to ruin a man’s reputation, then slandering him & hounding him until his health was ruined, is not considered a crime worth investigating. RIP Alex, the only man who might have achieved Independence for Scotland.
And the voters of Scotland punished the openly corrupt SNP by…. returning them to office.
The Scottish people are getting the government they deserve.
A little over £33,000 per year to be in something of a sham marriage with Sturgeon – I reckon he sold himself cheaply.
Wait a minute he admits to embezzling 400k plus from the SNP! What in the fuck happened to the 660k that wasn’t the SNP’s money?
So which spook agency is still protecting Sturgeon and keeping her out of a cell?
You are right to ask about the difference, even if it is only £660,000 minus £400,000….. but the reality is that people you thought were on your side did this to you, and everyone bar Rev Campbell who should have seen it chose not to. Ultimately, that is the internal culture within the SNP, and everyone knows that. And yet, people still vote for them….. !!
MI5
No embezzlement of funds charges reating to his period as CEO from 2001 to 2010.
He married Sturgeon in July 2010. His embezzling of funds began in August 2020.
That is entirely incorrect.
link to scottishdailyexpress.co.uk
1. The SNP has the option now of suing Murrell for recovery of the money he has admitted stealing from the party. Will be interesting to see if party high heid yins take up this option.
2. Murrell has put his hands up to stealing £400,310.65. That still leaves £250,000+ missing from the funds that should have been held in party accounts. Where is it and is anyone looking for it?
Swinney was leader when Murrell was appointed CEO
The excuse of doing it to “bankroll a lavish lifestyle he craved but could not afford” is such nonsense.
The embezzlement amounts to an average of £35k per year, and for most of that period, him and Sturgeon would have had a combined salary in excess of £200k per year.
Well done, Stu. Keep at it until the whole story is told.
We’re not going to get independence until it is.
£660k missing, £400k accounted for. What was deep throats advice in all the Presidents men?
Nicola Sturgeon has responded after her estranged husband Peter Murrell was remanded
She wrote on Instagram: “My reaction to the guilty plea tendered today by my former husband is difficult to put into words. I am angry, hurt, sad and very distressed about the impact of his actions on family, friends and the SNP.
“To be deceived and let down by a husband I loved and trusted has caused me acute pain. Why he acted as he did is, and always will be, beyond my comprehension.
“To be clear: I had no knowledge or suspicion whatsoever that he was using SNP funds for personal purposes. I am utterly appalled that he did so and cannot begin to understand why. That I was fully cleared after a thorough investigation underlines that these are not my crimes. I was misled just as others were.
“I know that there will be political discussion in light of what has happened, and I understand why. However, for me this has also been a profound personal trauma. I need to remain focussed on recovering from that and building a new phase of life. I will be making no further comment.”
——————————————–
Absolute bollocks.
The COPFS didn’t prosecute the other two that were initially charged.
I suppose that doesn’t stop a private prosecution from an individual or individuals who have the inclination and monetary ballast.
Meanwhile Murrell and co still have the Salmond’s Misfeasance case being carried forward by the Gun man to look forward too (as well).
Not quite – Sturgeon and Beattie were not “initially charged.” They were arrested and interviewed, then released without charge.
Soon…anyone else thinking “take one for the team?”
At least the excessive and oppressive Scottish contempt of court restrictions should no longer apply! You can understand Mrs Murrell not wanting this to go to trial, but why would Mr Murrell not try to put up a bit of a fight?
Shorter sentence?
Too many other skeletons rattling around in his closet? I have heard tell of some VERY interesting photographs taken in a rather louche club in Portugal.
There was some speculation here the other day about why Colin Weir abruptly cut off the cash and walked away from the SNP, a party he had supported all his adult life.
Could the late Mr Weir have sensed something that the two members (besides Peter Murrell) of the SNP executive – Nicola Sturgeon and Colin Beattie- somehow missed?
Hats off to Wings and Sean Clerkin, defamed as a “crank” by MSM pseudo -journalists, for complaining and pursuing this.
A few minute ago Swinney was shedding crocodile tears of horror and
betrayal. In this Scottish soft fruit season it seems fitting to respond with: Raspberries!!
Since the evil Sturgeon has dropped Murrell right in it and washed he hands like Pontius Pilat I hope he takes her down as well now. We can but hope.
Just to be clear…did he actually loan them their own money?
That appears a highly plausible possibility.
I hope that those especially SNP members can now see how their trust in the SNP Hierarchy was misused, for the future remember that the Country comes First not the Party !
When it comes to apologies from those who called anyone involved trying to find out what happened to the “Ring Fenced £600K” tra*tors, threatened them with violence and even death ! I don’t expect remorse from any of them, I don’t even believe they will call Peter Murell a “Tra*tor to Scotland”, he will be remembered as petty crook, tra*tors in Scottish History are air brushed out and forgotten.
Strange how the Media failed to question how Peter Murrell qualified for Legal Aid, no investigation into properties used by him in this country and abroad.
His mother’s property is waiting for him when he is released from gaol !
Could or would the SNP sue him for cash in years to come ?
I was fortunate to have my cash returned, was it legal for Hamza Yusuf to block any further repayments a few weeks later ? Why did the Media not pick up on that ?
I’m not great conspiracy lover but there is clear evidence of a change for the worse when the Sturgeon took over a FM.
Firstly the failed attempt to destroy the reputation of Alec Salmond and the follow up targeting Murray and Hirst.
Then the near obsession of pushing the highly unpopular and vote loser woke episode.
Followed by the years of the negative press relating to Murrel and his theft of SNP funds.
The result since the Sturgeon took office is the deliberate destruction of the SNP left penniless with its reputation as a party of honesty and integrity in ashes, penniless.
All this started after the ‘14 referendum.
Who is the beneficiary of this.??
Job done.
Any private Scottish citizen whose money is still missing – do you have the money to undertake a private prosecution? It would probably be heard in about 2032.
Vindicated. ( mike drop )
Ginger “Branchform’s over and the SNP is still standing” as if this is something to be proud of. The Betrayal of Scotland’s cause continues and the money train continues for those who claim to want Independence in name only. Until Scots waken up to the truth and who the SNP really represents and the scroungers who keep asking for money to support the cause are happy for the SNP to carry on as if nothing has ever happened, same on you, you don’t represent me and i’m willing to bet he’s never ever given to any Indy fund.
JFC.
Today’s outcome reminds me of Jeremy Thorpe admitting all sorts of things under oath knowing that he would be immune from future prosecution for them.
Murrell did steal lots of money from the SNP, but he did not act alone – how about the supplier who sold the Party and “conference” IT equipment to a far greater value than any sensible business would ever consider spending?
Kudos to the esteemed Reverend!
You are only a victim if you are of have been an SNP member or fundraiser. No public funds were lost. Now excuse ne I have cavassing to do we have a by-election to win.
What by election?
What goes in the Whore of Parliament’s piss stained precincts
link to blogs.lse.ac.uk
may i interest you bloody revolution? not today thanks.
the brits are pathetic patsies and love it.
REFORM….a private ltd company…cheers!
Sturgeon took over the party and from the begiging she and she alone has not only destroyed Independence but what the SNP once stood for and the best she can do sail on a canal as if nothing has happened, hasn’t peter Murrell be a fool.
I ask any decent Scots who really wants Independence why or why would you want to work with the SNP or its leadership.
On a basic salary of £80,000 a year and all the french benefits that comes with the job and being newly married in 2010, in the same year the stealing starts. Interesting I would have though with having a further income it would have STOPPED.
The reality is the UKG wants to protect the SNP because the SNP is protecting the union.
Now we will never know which of the alphabeties were given “gifts” to compensate them. Well done Rev you called it 100% right.
So glad I never gave this shower a single penny of my hard-earned cash.
I’m old enough to remember the great coffee machine scandal of 2015, which according to some reports on stv news today, is where some of the fraud money was spent…
link to wingsoverscotland.com
How the SNP’s auditors never uncovered any of this over a ten year period is both startling and suspicious.
Robin McAlpine has a forensic analysis on his blog entitled ‘ The Protection Racket: why is Sturgeon free tonight? It’s a good read.
Well done Stu!! yet again WELL DONE!! seriouosly, without you, we would still be in the dark about these things. we would wait a long time for the spineless Scottish media to expose this.
You are 100% right – this plea bargin is to keep the SNP inner circle safe!
As Lloyd Quinnan said, this will go down as one of the darkest chapters in our history. Betrayal indeed!
My brother in law who’s English calls Sturgeon, Teflon.
Do they still provide soap on a rope? My brother used to ask me to send him women’s mags, so being a good brother I sent him woman’s own instead.
So John Swinney professes to be ‘shocked’ and ‘betrayed’. But he’s been at the centre of the SNP for many, many years. And he didn’t realise that there was anything wrong. Really??
This old ditty comes to mind:
Lavender’s blue dilly dilly
Lavenders green
When I am king dilly dilly, you
shall be queen..
The mere sight of that narcissist swanning about on holiday boils my piss. Even now the cultists are sending her best wishes. Grrrr…
I almost fell off my chair the other week when I saw Colin Beattie getting reelected.
Criminal or off the charts incompetent, neither should have been a winning look.