Peter Murrell

As this case is currently ongoing are we allowed to comment?

Having looked at the items that he is alleged to have purchased with the money I find it highly doubtful that Nicola Sturgeon didn’t know.

She resigned very suddenly and unexpectedly.

GrannyGravy13

Having looked at the items that he is alleged to have purchased with the money I find it highly doubtful that Nicola Sturgeon didn’t know.

Agree completely, GG.

I've no doubt those that condemn the Royal Family for 'certainly knowing what was going on' will heartily condemn Nicola Sturgeon in exactly the same way.

I agree with GrannyGravy13. How could she have not noticed purchases totalling almost half a million pounds?

I don’t know. It was over a 12 year period, so it averaged between £35–40k a year. Would it be possible to appear to be a better money manager than you were and not tell your partner? Was another woman involved? Did you control the family finances? Would you say a car was on a contract when you paid for it outright? I know somebody whose husband ran up hundreds of thousands in gambling debts and she had no idea, so unless we are told more I can’t condemn or exonerate Nicola Sturgeon.

£40k a year for 12 consecutive years? That's more than good money management that's incredible money management. She knew what he earned, she knew their household expenses yet she didn't question?

Of course she knew 🤷‍♀️ You would be deaf dumb and blind not to question where all the goodies were coming from.

It depends what the rest of your income is though Rosie52. If you have an income of £20k it would be obvious. If you have an income of £250k it would be much less so. Millions of households have one partner who controls the money. I’m not saying she was innocent, I’m saying like so many things, people jump to conclusions when in possession of only some of the facts.

Mollygo

In view of the certainty on the media including GN that family members, and those in close contact with a person must know of any wrong doing, is anyone on here certain that Nicola Sturgeon knew all about Peter Morrell’s actions?
Or is she allowed to be innocent until she is actually accused?

Murrell is innocent until proven guilty so l don't see how we can judge what Sturgeon knew until it's proven what he did, or didn't, do.

Well said OldFrill 👏

I think as someone who donated and still does ,that money spent on the cause in whatever way is fine by me.
I don’t understand how these accounts were audited twice by both Scotland and Westminster and no money was missing .
If having a campaign bus bought during Covid ,when MP,swore being criticised daily for having meetings in public houses etc is the main concern then can we also turn our attention to Angela Rayner….who had a “ battle bus “ with Angela’s battle bus written large across it!
Any money that was used by the SNP was given FOR the use of the SNP.
On the other hand Mone,Harding and various others have walked away with MILLIONS in the case of Harding Billions and not one of them is up in court and some are still members of the lords.
What a strange world ….its fine when it’s WM politicians and public funds but not when it’s Scot’s using money raised FOR their use.
Maybe someone can explain why the difference?

Different charges. Murrell is being charged with embezzlement, not fraud and bribery.

Aveline

As this case is currently ongoing are we allowed to comment?

Why has it been delayed suddenly?

More charges to come or some to be 'lost'?

paddyanne you can always be trusted to defend the indefensible, if the indefensible is done by the Scots Nats, but heaven forbid that a member of any other party should even borrow a penny for the loo and the cries of corruption ring through the land.

Still with a party that cannot see the problems that might arise when the Chief Executive and the leader of the Parliamentary party are a couple, not just in the short term, but for nine years, it is unsurorising that it took them all that time to decide that there might be problems.

I think I would be having very hard talks with the auditors as to why they faileld the find this malfeasance. Mind you, this is not uncommon. Every year companies get called out and the auditors have been found to have failed to audit properly. Usually the reason is that the auditors get to friendly with the cents at a personal level, making it easier to pull the wool over the auditors eyes.

Mind you, a political organisation having the same chief executive for the nearly 25 years, thats an invitation to fraud.

Either the SNP is institutionally corrupt or it is grossly incompetent.

Rosie51

I've no doubt those that condemn the Royal Family for 'certainly knowing what was going on' will heartily condemn Nicola Sturgeon in exactly the same way.

I agree with GrannyGravy13. How could she have not noticed purchases totalling almost half a million pounds?

Rosie51 are you the eternal optimist? 😁

How can she not have known?
Unless he was giving all these gifts to someone else.

I think as someone who donated and still does ,that money spent on the cause in whatever way is fine by me.

Spent on the cause?
Have you been allowed to borrow the campervan, paddyann?

Did you never question where that money has gone?

As the SNP’s chief executive for over two decades, he's accused of using party funds illicitly to buy a £124,550 campervan for his personal use, as well as buying luxury goods, cosmetics and jewellery.
Plus a Jag and a VW car , one of these he sold to "we buy any car" and he put the money into his personal account.
How was Nicola Sturgeon oblivious to that? She must have some idea of their personal income? If she's didn't just as well she's not in politics any more?
If you had given money to the SNP, as campaign funds, you would be extremely pissed off, to have this man spending it as his own.

Casdon

It depends what the rest of your income is though Rosie52. If you have an income of £20k it would be obvious. If you have an income of £250k it would be much less so. Millions of households have one partner who controls the money. I’m not saying she was innocent, I’m saying like so many things, people jump to conclusions when in possession of only some of the facts.

Even if the yearly income was £250,000 I would still like to know where the £110,000 motohome came from.

For most people, being shafted by a member of your 'family' however defined hurts far more than the sins of others.

If I was an SNP supporter, to think that a couple of people I had admired as leaders of a political party I supported, were all along lining their nest with my donations, wouldd cut me to the uick far more than larger frauds by people I do not know or ssupport in any way.

Radio four news reported that police investigation into Nicola Sturgeon found no cause to investigate further, or to charge her.

Given the large sums of money Peter M was embezzling to but extravagant motor homes, cars etc I question what kind of relationship they shared. Rumours for years about Nicola S private life being separate from that of her husband.

I’m an independent type, when married mr I and I shared a joint account into which we both put agreed amounts from our salaries. Household bills all paid from that. Our individual bank accounts were ours. If mr I had been buying a huge motor home I’d have been curious about where the deposit and monthly payments were coming from

petra

Casdon

It depends what the rest of your income is though Rosie52. If you have an income of £20k it would be obvious. If you have an income of £250k it would be much less so. Millions of households have one partner who controls the money. I’m not saying she was innocent, I’m saying like so many things, people jump to conclusions when in possession of only some of the facts.

Even if the yearly income was £250,000 I would still like to know where the £110,000 motohome came from.

I would too Petra, but then I’ve always been the type who runs my own finances. I know plenty of women who don’t though, including a couple in high powered jobs, who let their husbands do it all. The jury is out.

The SNP accounts were not actually audited Paddyann. The finance committee all resigned as he wouldn't share the books with them and auditors wouldn't sign them off. Very suspicious and has been for years. I thought you would have known that as it was all over the news at the time

It was reputedly , a marriage of convenience for both. Blind eyes turned, etc.

It can't be coincidence that Salmond's estate is about to go into the laundry business.