NIGEL Farage wants to buy the campervan jailed former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell bought with party funds, according to reports.
In a news story apparently briefed to The Sunday Mail amid allegations of criminality at the top of Reform UK, it was reported that Reform UK representatives have made inquiries into when and if the vehicle will be auctioned by police.
The paper also reported tat the party wants to use the campervan to tour Scotland on the campaign trail for the local elections next year.
A source told the Sunday Mail: “They would love to get their hands on it and initial calls have been made by Reform. The campervan has gained an almost mythical status now as a symbol of corruption and hubris.
“Reform want to use it as a campaign vehicle to ram home the idea of SNP rot – it would be pure political theatre.
"It is a six year old second hand vehicle and the SNP themselves have valued it at £41,000 in their accounts, a fraction of the £124k it cost to buy."
In June, Murrell was sentenced to five years and three months in prison, after pleading guilty to embezzling more than £400k from the SNP over 12 years.
The 61-year-old, who is the ex-husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, doctored invoices and falsified accounting records to cover up how he was misusing party funds to buy items ranging from the motorhome to coffee machines, egg poachers, and toilet seats.
The luxury motorhome, purchased by Murrell for £124,500, was allegedly supposed to be used to campaign for the SNP during the pandemic, but court records show Murrell purchased a number of guides for motorhome holidays at around the same time.
It had only been driven for four miles before being seized by police in April 2023.
The story comes at a time when Reform are looking to move on from their own scandal around finances, amid allegations the party has breached political donation rules by having polling paid for by an overseas company.
Undercover reporting by Channel 4 News found that Reform took funding from a US firm for three polls it commissioned earlier this year, costing £32,500.
Foreign companies are not a permissible source of funding for parties, including for payments for studies and research, and accepting donations from them could constitute a criminal offence.
On Friday, Reform confirmed two party officials, head of policy James Orr and aide Dan Jukes, have stepped down from their positions.
Farage is also under investigation for an undisclosed £5 million donation he received from crypto billionaire Christopher Harbone – an investigation which led to the Reform UK leader resigning from his seat in order to trigger a by-election.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "All evidence in this case is currently held by Police Scotland as is normal for any investigation – the disposal of evidence is a matter for COPFS."
The SNP have been approached for comment.
