Key facts
- The SNP has written off the value of a motorhome purchased by former chief executive Peter Murrell using party funds.
- The motorhome's value has been removed from the party's balance sheet.
- Peter Murrell, who pleaded guilty to embezzling over £400,000 from the SNP, is still owed £60,000 by the party.
- The £60,000 is from a loan Murrell provided in 2021, for which no formal agreement or repayment terms exist.
- The SNP's accounts show a surplus of over £500,000 for the year.
The Scottish National Party (SNP) has formally written off the value of a motorhome purchased with party funds by its former chief executive, Peter Murrell. The party's latest accounts, published by the Electoral Commission, show the £100,000 vehicle has been removed from its balance sheet.
Murrell, who is the estranged husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, pleaded guilty earlier this year to embezzling over £400,000 from the SNP and was sentenced to more than five years in prison. The motorhome, which had been parked at Murrell's mother's home, became a subject of scrutiny during the police investigation.
Despite the write-off of the motorhome, the accounts also reveal that Murrell is still owed £60,000 from a loan he provided to the party in 2021. The SNP noted in its accounts that there is no formal loan agreement, no interest is being charged, and no specific repayment terms have been agreed. Due to the lack of communication and agreed terms, the party expressed uncertainty about when, or if, this loan will be repaid, or if it might ultimately be waived.
First Minister John Swinney stated that the accounts demonstrate the party's "formidable financial strength," reporting a surplus of £509,903 for the year, a significant improvement from the previous year's deficit. This financial recovery was partly attributed to staffing cuts following redundancies in 2024. The party reported having 50,443 members at the end of June, a decrease from its peak during Sturgeon's leadership.