Peter Murrell was accused of accepting an unregistered £50,000 cash donation in return for helping a wealthy businessman’s relative to become an MP.
Before he died Alex Salmond revealed an extraordinary phone call in which the millionaire boasted he handed the cash to the ex-SNP CEO.
The cash for seats allegation has intensified demands for a parliamentary inquiry after Murrell admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the party.
In 2023 Salmond told the Sunday Mail how he was contacted by the businessman in the years after he had stood down as First Minister.
He told how ”the gentleman was furious that he had given this cash to Peter”, but at that time it had not resulted in a seat.
At a subsequent Westminster election the man’s relative – who we are not naming – became an MP after being selected to stand in a safe SNP seat.
View 6 ImagesNicola Sturgeon at home on Uddingston, Glasgow.(Image: Daily Record)
Operation Branchform detectives were also passed two complaints that SNP chiefs accepted envelopes stuffed with cash from the businessman in exchange for influence.
No donations from the individual were ever registered with the Electoral Commission and it is unclear what became of any money which could have been handed over. Under electoral law parties must declare donations above £500 – or face sanctions.
View 6 ImagesFormer Cabinet minister and SNP MSP Alex Neil(Image: Tony Nicoletti/Daily Record)
Former SNP minister Alex Neil said: “I am aware of these allegations and they are further reason why John Swinney should instruct an independent review of this entire scandal.
“If Peter Murrell was accepting cash for political favours then that is a very serious matter and we need to get to the bottom of how extensive this was and how it impacted party decision making and policy.
“Swinney has made a huge mistake in not personally instructing a review because there are many unanswered question which both party members and all of the Scottish public deserve answers to.
“We need to know whether a deal was done whereby Murrell pled guilty on the understand-ing that Nicola Sturgeon would not be pursued and whether embarrassing items were deleted from charges.
“I think Nicola has a moral duty to hand back any items that she was given as gifts from Peter to help recoup money that SNP members donated.
“If John Swinney does not initiate a review there is a high likelihood Westminster will take the initiative and that could be more damaging for the party in the long run.”
In 2023 it was reported that a complaint sent to Police Scotland via Greater Manchester Police alleged thousands of pounds of donations were not registered by the SNP.
View 6 ImagesThe late Alex Salmond (Image: PA)
A further letter sent directly to Police Scotland alleged a businessman handed “substantial donations” worth “tens of thousands” in white envelopes.
The High Court in Edinburgh heard earlier this month how Murrell used charge cards, bank transfers and fake invoices to fund purchases including a motorhome, two cars, a robotic lawnmower, jewellery and cosmetics between 2010 and 2022.
He is due to be sentenced on 23 June.
Concerns about SNP finances initially centred on £667,000 of donations for a second independence referendum campaign.
The cash was collected in two SNP online fundraisers after Sturgeon announced plans for a second referendum in March 2017.
The party insisted that the funds were “ring-fenced” for a referendum campaign, while Sturgeon said “every penny” would be used for that purpose.
However, by 2021, Sturgeon was denying claims that the money had “gone missing”.
View 6 ImagesA red Smythson tote bag bought by Murrell for £747.50 with SNP finances(Image: PA)
The Sunday Mail uncovered astonishing video footage leaked from within the party showing Sturgeon personally insisting SNP finances had never been stronger.
At a meeting of the party’s ruling body in March 2021 the former first minister warned her officials to be “very careful” about suggesting there was any problems with the accounts.
Murrell resigned as SNP CEO in 2023 after having to admit he lied to deny our exclusive report that 30,000 members had left his party.
He stood down weeks after his now estranged wife Sturgeon also resigned as the police investigation into SNP accounts intensified.
She was replaced as First Minister by Humza Yousaf who told the BBC he thought Sturgeon looked “quite a broken women”.
View 6 ImagesThe infamous motorhome seized by police.(Image: Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service)
He also said he was “gobsmacked” when SNP offices were raided by police in 2023, shortly after he had succeeded Sturgeon as party leader.
In an interview with the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg programme Sturgeon said that her estranged husband has never explained to her why he took party funds. She went on to speak of the “trauma” she has gone through. She said she was “serving a sentence for a crime I did not commit”.
First Minister Swinney has rejected calls for a Holyrood inquiry into Murrell’s crimes. He said a probe was not needed following a five-year “forensic” police investigation.
Last week we revealed that SNP activists who made the initial police reports that resulted in Murrell’s conviction will sue Sturgeon and could pursue a private prosecution.
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An SNP spokesperson said: “There has been an extensive police investigation over several years during which every relevant aspect has been pored over by the authorities, and this has led to a guilty plea for the person responsible.
“Over the course of those inquiries, the police uncovered that the SNP had been the victim of embezzlement by its former chief executive.
“No action was taken against the SNP – the SNP is the victim of a crime perpetrated by Peter Murrell.”