The Scottish National Party (SNP) has written off the £100,000 value of a motorhome purchased by former chief executive Peter Murrell using party funds. The vehicle's value has been removed from the party's accounts, as detailed in documents published by the Electoral Commission on Thursday.
Murrell, the estranged husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, was previously sentenced to over five years in prison after pleading guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP. During the police investigation into his activities, the motorhome, which was kept at his mother's home in Fife, became a notable element of the case.
While it was initially stated that the motorhome would be used for SNP campaigning during the pandemic, court records later indicated that Murrell had concurrently purchased guides for motorhome holidays. This revelation contributed to public scrutiny of the purchase.
The party's accounts also reveal that Murrell is still owed £60,000 from a loan he provided to the SNP in 2021. This amount remains on the party's balance sheet, although the SNP notes that Murrell has not formally requested repayment. The party has expressed uncertainty about whether this sum will need to be repaid.
A note in the accounts states there is no formal loan agreement, no interest charged, and no specific repayment terms agreed upon for the £60,000. The party acknowledges that the former chief executive has not requested repayment and, due to the absence of agreed terms and recent communication, there is uncertainty regarding when or if the loan will be repaid, or if it might ultimately be waived or written off. This uncertainty is disclosed as a significant judgment in assessing the liability to ensure the financial statements present a true and fair view of the party's financial position.
A proceeds of crime hearing is anticipated next month, where the party aims to recover the full amount embezzled by Murrell.
First Minister John Swinney commented on the accounts for 2025, highlighting the party's "formidable financial strength" leading up to the May Holyrood election. The SNP reported a surplus of £509,903 for the year, a significant improvement from a deficit of nearly £400,000 the previous year. This financial recovery was largely attributed to staffing reductions following a redundancy drive in 2024.
Income from membership fees accounted for over £1.7 million of the SNP's revenue in the past year. At the end of June, the party reported 50,443 members, a decrease from its peak of over 100,000 during Sturgeon's tenure as leader and a further drop from 56,011 members in 2024. Swinney stated that the rebuilding of the party's finances enabled a well-resourced campaign and contributed to a "historic election victory."