Readers' Letters: So Murrell could access SNP funds without a cosignatory?

If he managed to defraud the SNP of all of this money, how did he come to get access to the funds to do so? Was he sole signatory on a political party's bank account, a lax – but not unusually so given the SNP's fiduciary abilities – state of governance, or were the payment transactions countersigned, as would be normal, by another authorised signatory on their account, and if so, who?

In my time in banking it was normal practice for any society, club or association – and a political party surely falls within those general bounds – to require their banking to be authorised by “any two of three, or more, appointed signatories”. The countersignatory, whoever it may have been, is just as complicit in this entire affair, if only for simply signing things off unquestioningly.

Why, then, are they not up in front of the Beak? They might not have done the spending but are surely responsible for allowing it to happen and sanctioning its funding.

I have not seen these points addressed. Surely it is appropriate to ask for answers, especially as it covers the governance, or lack of it, of the party elected, somehow, to rule over us.

Allan Lang, Selkirk, Scottish Borders

Long sentence

Peter Murrell got just over five years for embezzling £400,000 from the SNP, some of which was potentially money from the taxpayer which the SNP apparently don’t want to risk uncovering, so they avoid any further investigation or scrutiny. Any organisation that had that level of fraud would be calling in forensic auditors to understand what went wrong and prevent it happening again, but John Swinney continues his predecessors’ approach of “nothing to see here” – so similar to “No comment”, or perhaps even that famous “I cannot recall”!

Meanwhile, thanks to the SNP’s soft justice system. Murrell could be out in just over two years, unlike the Scottish electorate who, despite voting overwhelmingly for pro-unionist parties, have a five-year sentence under the SNP government, running consecutively from the previous 20 years’ sentence. There is no justice!

Brian Barbour, Haddington, East Lothian

Blind spot?

Peter Murrell clearly felt he could help himself to funds from the party and members he had a duty of care to protect and serve. Prison is an easy option and too costly for us, taxpayers would be better served through an extended community service sentence doing work that no one else wants to do with long unsocial hours. He will potentially get out before Christmas 2028, largely free, a sobering thought for his victims. What was not widely reported is that Murrell was a good friend of John Swinney, the two having been in the Boys Brigade together as children. It was Swinney who appointed Murrell as chairman.

It’s difficult not to conclude that both Swinney and Nicola Sturgeon were incredibly poor judges of character and allowed Murrell to completely deceive them. It makes one wonder what other mistakes they have made and, in the case of Swinney, are making in privileged positions of power that are worthy of investigation. If there is to be an enquiry the incompetence of those closest to Murrell should be considered a priority.

Neil Anderson, Edinburgh

The heat is on

In the current heatwave conditions, which are likely to become more prevalent, the country is suddenly appraised of the fact that with heatwaves the wind dies and at over 25 degrees Centigrade solar panels decline in efficiency. The result now is an urgent need for gas-fired power generation.

Can we therefore assume, as more heatwaves are expected, that existing Net Zero proponents have got it wrong, and we need to redevelop UK North Sea gas fields such as Jackdaw urgently?

Elizabeth Marshall, Edinburgh

No defence

The ongoing delays to the UK’s defence plan are simply inexcusable.

The nation’s ability to protect itself, let alone its overseas territories, has been run down over many decades.

In the current geopolitical climate this is an urgent priority and it beggars belief that the plan has still not been published.

Christopher Ruane, Lanark, South Lanarkshire

Painful truths

The latest Public Health Scotland figures on waiting times for musculoskeletal (MSK) services should be a cause for concern.

Between August 2025 and March 2026, only 52.4 per cent of patients were seen within the Scottish government's four-week waiting time target. Meanwhile, the number of people waiting for care increased to 75,128 by the end of March 2026.

MSK conditions affect around 1.7 million people in Scotland and are the leading cause of pain and disability. Timely access to services such as physiotherapy is often critical to helping people manage their condition and maintain their quality of life.

Arthritis UK is calling for a national MSK Action Plan to improve access to diagnosis, treatment and support. We are also urging the Scottish Parliament's Health, Care and Sport Committee to undertake a dedicated inquiry into musculoskeletal health, an area that has never been the subject of a parliamentary inquiry despite its significant impact on individuals and the health service.

These latest figures highlight the need for urgent action to improve outcomes for people living with arthritis and other musculoskeletal conditions across Scotland. People living with this cannot afford to wait any longer.

Alan McGinley, Arthritis UK, Glasgow

Get thinking

After the period of revolving doors to No.10 under the Conservatives we now have a Labour Prime Minister – swept into the post by a landslide courtesy of our antediluvian and undemocratic electoral system – who is apparently to be replaced by a white knight drafted in from outside Parliament.

I would suggest it is now time to set up an all-party committee containing academics as well as politicians to devise some constitutional arrangements better suited to current realities, such as four nations with devolved powers and a plethora of parties. If such a committee got down to it now they might be able to rough out an interim report in time for the bicentenary of the Great Reform Act of 1832 on which our current arrangements are largely based.

S Beck, Edinburgh

Stability needed

Andy Burnham’s magisterial train-ride south to be greeted by the many selfie-seeking well-wishers of Labour’s parliamentary party stood in stark contrast to the apparent non-attendance of Cabinet Ministers at Keir Starmer’s surprisingly emotional resignation speech.

Was Burnham's train-ride the equivalent of Jesus’ second coming on a white charger to redeem mankind, banish evil, and usher in a new heaven and earth, as prophesied in the Bible’s Book of Revelation?

Or will it turn out to be more akin to Jesus’ donkey ride into Jerusalem where he was greeted by adulating crowds on Palm Sunday, only to be shunned by the self-same masses soon thereafter, before facing the suffering of Good Friday. Time alone will tell.

As the political plate tectonics of the nation shift once more, it was amusing to note that when his “messiahship” was challenged during his induction to the House of Commons, Andy Burnham’s self-confession was that he was “a naughty boy” – a witty Monty Python reference. I suspect that response held more than a ring of truth for the outgoing PM as he starts his enforced banishment.

The disease of political regicide continues unabated. Can someone – anyone – please find the stabilising antidote that is so sorely needed?

Ewen Peters, Newton Mearns, East Renfrewshire

Majority ignored

Lara Bird's “fingers crossed” inauguration as an SNP MP has, once again, raised the subject of how political parties choose their candidates. Public officers are meant to represent all their constituents. not just those who voted for them. This concept has now been adapted on a too-regular basis in recent years by too many parties to focus on certain aspects only. It all boils down to the ethereal concept of “freedom of speech”.

This idea has been hijacked and it continues a trend. When Keir Starmer resigned the cacophony of pro-EU background music was nearly deafening. A solemn national moment disrupted by a few protestors. It appears the majority are now to be ignored or sidelined for much of the time by small self-interest groups. Is this situation really sustainable?

Gerald Edwards, Glasgow

Rake’s progress

I always enjoy The Scotsman’s retro photo-features (it must be something to do with getting old...), including this week’s feature on Edinburgh Zoo down the decades (24 June).

One of the pictures on the spread, though, shows not a cart but a horse-drawn hay-rake, on which a child could ride – as shown in the picture, the ensemble was led around a field of cut hay and the child was invited to operate a lever at intervals, to lower or raise the rake to gather the hay or deposit it into heaps. I had a go on it once...

Alasdair J C Taylor, Edinburgh

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