Committee publication · Correspondence · 14 July 2026
Correspondence from the Electoral Commission regarding the embezzlement of funds from the SNP, dated 14 July 2026
Summary
The Electoral Commission writes to the Scottish Affairs Committee on 14 July 2026 regarding safeguards for SNP policy development grant funds following embezzlement allegations. The Commission confirms its compliance checks and audit processes are sufficient, states it found no evidence of misuse of policy development grant funds by the SNP, and outlines its current work reviewing past accounts with the party following Peter Murrell's conviction.
Key findings
- The Electoral Commission's compliance checks include audit report review, policy outcome reports, and spending verification to ensure grants are used for policy development in line with grant terms and conditions.
- The Commission recently reviewed the SNP's historic use of policy development grants and found no evidence of misuse of those funds in their checks.
- Political parties must appoint independent qualified auditors to assess Policy Development Grant spending; the Commission can appoint auditors on behalf of parties unable to secure one.
- Following Peter Murrell's conviction, the Electoral Commission is currently reviewing past SNP accounts, declarations and disclosures but cannot provide further details while work is ongoing.
- The Commission worked closely with Police Scotland during their investigation and retains contact to access information relevant to its regulatory responsibilities under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000.
Tone
FactualTopics
Key actors
Electoral Commission, John Pullinger (Chair, Electoral Commission), Patricia Ferguson MP (Chair, Scottish Affairs Committee), Scottish National Party (SNP), Peter Murrell, Police Scotland, Alba party
Notable line
“We are satisfied that these checks, combined with the separate audit process, do provide sufficient assurance that policy development grant funds allocated to political parties have been used correctly.”
Key Quotes
“In relation to the SNP, specifically, we recently rev iewed the party's historic use of the grant again and have seen no evidence of misuse of policy development grant funds by them in our checks.”
“Following the conviction of Peter Murrell, we are currently working with the SNP to review past accounts, declarations and disclosures.”
“… we worked closely with Police Scotland during the course of their investigation and remain in contact to ensure we have access to any information that might be relevant to our regulatory responsibilities under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act”
Source · parliament.uk record ↗