Electoral Commission issues statement on fears Peter Murrell embezzled public money

Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell enters the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday, May 25 (Image: PA)

THE Electoral Commission has issued a statement in response to allegations that Peter Murrell may have embezzled taxpayer money.

On Monday, the former SNP chief executive admitted to stealing £400,000 in funds from the party to fund luxury purchases – and questions were raised about whether some of the money had come from the general taxpayer rather than party members.

During Murrell’s 22-year tenure as SNP chief executive, he may have had access to either grant funding from the Electoral Commission or “short money” provided to opposition parties in the Commons.

Speaking at First Minister’s Questions on Thursday – the first of the new Scottish parliament – Tory group leader Russell Findlay raised “new reports that taxpayers' money was also stolen”.

Responding, John Swinney said that the “only issue that could apply there is in relation to a policy development grant from the Electoral Commission”.

The grants are given to political parties with at least two sitting members of the House of Commons and are used to develop policies to include in election manifestos.

Swinney told MSPs: “I want to reassure parliament that in order to receive funding, a party needs to apply to the Electoral Commission outlining the work that will be done in the forthcoming year and submit an audited report to the Electoral Commission outlining what grant funding has been spent upon.

“It's only on receipt of the audited report that the final payment of the grant is made by the Electoral Commission. So that confirms that this is SNP supporters' money that has been embezzled and not public money.”

First Minister John Swinney pictured during a visit to Edinburgh Waverley station (Image: Jane Barlow/PA Wire)

A spokesperson for the Electoral Commission appeared to back Swinney’s statement, saying that they had reviewed grants given to the SNP and could see “no evidence” of any misuse of misappropriation of funds.

The Electoral Commission said: "The SNP received policy development grants as set out in law. Parties have to report on their use of the grant, and have that grant expenditure independently audited. The Commission checks carefully that the grant is spent correctly.

"The SNP have provided those audits, we have checked them, and we have seen no evidence of misuse of policy development grant funds. If there is evidence of any misuse, the Commission will take appropriate action to safeguard public money."