Scottish National Party faces electoral losses and internal scandal as John Swinney declines whistleblower apology

The Scottish National Party (SNP) was badly beaten in recent Scottish by‑elections, with its vote share falling by almost 10 percentage points in the Highland ward and a loss in the Aberdeen council race. The results have intensified scrutiny of the party’s leadership after the conviction of former chief executive Peter Murrell for embezzling more than £400,000.

Former SNP finance and audit committee members Cynthia Guthrie and Allison Graham, who quit in 2021 alleging bullying over the party’s finances, have sought an apology from First Minister John Swinney. Swinney said he has apologised to SNP members affected by the Murrell scandal but refused to apologise to the whistle‑blowers, saying an inquiry into their claims would be “nonsensical”. Opposition leader Russell Findlay pressed Swinney for an apology, highlighting the ongoing internal dispute.

The twin pressures of electoral setbacks and the whistle‑blower controversy have raised questions about Swinney’s future as SNP leader and the party’s governance.