Scottish SNP leaders urged to resign as Murrell embezzlement scandal deepens

Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell was sentenced to five years in prison for embezzling roughly £400,000 from the party. Whistleblowers who raised concerns in 2020‑2021 say they were silenced and subjected to bullying by senior figures, including former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and current First Minister John Swinney. The revelations have prompted calls for Swinney’s resignation and broader criticism of a culture of secrecy at Holyrood.

Commentators argue the case exposes weak internal governance within the SNP and urges greater transparency in Scottish politics, warning that the party’s handling of the scandal could erode public trust.