‘Gutted’ Swinney apologises to SNP members but ‘never suspected’ Murrell’s crime

First Minister John Swinney said ‘sorry’ to people who donated money to the SNP only for the cash to be embezzled by then-chief executive Peter Murrell (Jane Barlow/PA) - (PA Wire)

John Swinney has apologised to SNP members after former chief executive Peter Murrell admitted embezzling hundreds of thousands of pounds from the party.

Mr Swinney, who was last week formally re-elected as Scotland’s First Minister, said the “level of personal horror” he felt over Murrell’s crimes was “difficult for me to properly convey”.