Nicola Sturgeon is becoming more and more involved in the scandal surrounding the SNP’suse of funding and police investigation into it after footage from the 2021 party meeting showing her issue a severe warning to her officials has been leaked.
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It comes as a former FM’s husband and SNP’s executive Peter Murrell’s recent arrest in relation to the probe. Though he has been released without any charges made, the situation stays tense for Nicola Sturgeon, with the media actively speculating about the state of her marriage and her political career.
What does the leaked footage show?
UK national media published bombshell footage of Nicola Sturgeon furiously insisting SNP finances had ‘never been stronger’.
The video shows the former First Minister warning her officials to be ‘very careful’ about suggesting there were ‘any problems’ with the accounts.
Sunday Mail video of Sturgeon instructing the snp not to question the state of their finances, it's all in great shape. It also sounds to me like she's encouraging no questions so donations will keep coming.
— David (@obadiahmurdoch8) April 16, 2023
This must surely be the end. #snpcorruption#sturgeon#petermurrellpic.twitter.com/BrhvjAfvj1
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Nicola Sturgeon lashed out after three members of her finance and audit committee resigned in protest because they were refused access to the books.
She said:
The party has never been in a stronger financial position than it is right now and that’s a reflection of our strength and our membership.
The filming took place during a meeting of the party’s ruling body in March 2021.
The former FM continued:
I’m not going to get into the details...but, you know, just be very careful about suggestions that there are problems with the party’s finances because we depend on donors to donate.
The politician and her husband Peter Murrell declined to comment on the video.
Why is the SNP being investigated?
The leaks are revealed as police are trying to find out whether £600,000 earmarked for independence campaigning was diverted elsewhere back in 2021.
The former FM’s spouse Peter Murrell was arrested this week in connection to the investigation but released without charge 11 hours later. It was earlier in June 2021 Murrell personally loaned the party £107,000.
Some party officials resigned from the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) in protest of not being given the financial information to do their job.
SNP MP Joanna Cherry expressed her concern:
I have sat on a number of management boards and I have never seen business conducted in such an inadequate way as it is on the SNP NEC.
Another official added:
Sturgeon and Murrell ran the SNP like their own personal fiefdom along with a small inner circle of HQ enforcers. Humza has now inherited a hollow crown with a party in complete meltdown.
New calls for Nicola Sturgeon to be suspended from SNP after fundraising leak https://t.co/K1MTMJOm8Cpic.twitter.com/h9cIVw68Yc
— Politico Digital UK (@PoliDigitalUK) April 16, 2023
The SNP yesterday ordered a review of transparency and governance with ‘external input’ which could include forensic auditors.
The party’s spokesman said:
Today the SNP National Executive Committee agreed to a series of proposals to increase transparency in the SNP. It is the case that the SNP accounts are published annually and are in order.
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Sources used:
- Daily Record: 'Leaked video footage shows Nicola Sturgeon knocking back concerns about SNP finances'
