John Swinney admits he hasn’t spoken to SNP whistleblowers since Peter Murrell conviction

The First Minister said he had not called former MPs Douglas Chapman and Joanna Cherry – both of whom resigned from the SNP’s governing body in 2021.

John Swinney has admitted he has not spoken to SNP whistleblowers since Peter Murrell pled guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party.

The First Minister said he had not called former MPs Douglas Chapman and Joanna Cherry – both of whom resigned from the SNP’s governing body in 2021 amid concerns they had not provided with “support or financial information” in order to scrutinise the party’s then financial position.

It has since transpired that 2020 and 2021 were the peak years of Murrell’s decade-long embezzlement of SNP cash.

Chapman, a well-respected figure within the party, quit as the SNP’s national treasurer and claimed in June 2021 he had been given enough information to do his job.

Speaking in 2021, Swinney said he could not understand what had prompted the then MP’s decision. Asked at the time whether Police Scotland was investigating “£600,000 of SNP funds and perhaps diverted elsewhere?” Mr Swinney replied: “Not to my knowledge, no.”

Speaking today, the now First Minister said: “What I’ve got to do is serve my party and to make sure I bring forward the improvements and the governance that are taking place so we have the highest standards of governance.”

Asked whether Chapman, Cherry and others had not “kick-started an investigation into the party that uncovered criminality”, and “ultimately done the party a great favour”, Swinney added: “I grieve for the party members as the trust in one of its most senior members was betrayed.

“And as a consequence of that, a police investigation has found out the extent of that betrayal, to the highest possible standards, which has resulted in a High Court prosecution.

“And that’s come about because of the forensic investigation taken forward by the police.

“The assurance I give to party members today is that I’ve got in place now the strongest standards of governance and we will continue to challenge ourselves to make sure those standards of governance are applied at all times.”

In a post on social media hours after Murrell was convicted, Chapman said: “When you circle the wagons make sure you’re protecting the right guys.

“SNP group-think, plus lack of self-awareness, political judgement and decency suggests there will be no apology from the party hierarchy – some of whom are now serving as MSPs/ministers in the Scottish Government.”