Scotland's Deputy First Minister Jenny Gilruth has refrained from defending former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon against accusations made by a Conservative Member of Parliament. The claims, leveled by Sir David Davis, suggest Sturgeon was aware of her estranged husband Peter Murrell's alleged embezzlement.
During a visit to Glasgow on Friday, Gilruth deflected questions regarding Sir David's statements, which were made under parliamentary privilege. Instead, Gilruth criticized the MP for utilizing parliamentary privilege to voice the accusations without facing potential defamation lawsuits. "I think if those were his views, perhaps he should have shared them publicly and not hidden behind parliamentary privilege, as seems to have been the case in this instance," Gilruth stated.
Sir David Davis had alleged that Sturgeon had "stitched up" her former colleague Alex Salmond and was involved in a "cover-up" concerning SNP finances and her husband's alleged illicit activities. Peter Murrell was recently sentenced to over five years in prison for embezzling more than £400,000 from the Scottish National Party while serving as its chief executive.
Sturgeon has consistently denied any knowledge of her husband's alleged wrongdoing, despite reports of luxury items being delivered to their home. Gilruth indicated that the government's position on these matters has been well-documented in the press. She added that a recent court case in Scotland, related to Peter Murrell's trial, had a victim, which she identified as the Scottish National Party.
A spokesperson for Sturgeon characterized Sir David Davis as part of an "Old Boys Club" that has been promoting "conspiracy theories" on behalf of Alex Salmond since 2021. The spokesperson further stated that Davis's reliance on Westminster's legal privilege demonstrated his character.