I'm livid! Stephen Flynn tells of his anger at betrayal of SNP faithful... but doesn't back an inquiry

By TOM GORDON, SCOTTISH DAILY MAIL DEPUTY POLITICAL EDITOR Published: 20:21, 3 June 2026 | Updated: 20:21, 3 June 2026 The SNP’s financial governance was ‘inadequate’ during Peter Murrell’s crime spree, the party’s former Westminster leader has said. Stephen Flynn, who is now the Economy Secretary, said learning about how the former chief executive was able to rob party members for years ‘angered me massively’. He added: ‘My biggest concern is for the folk within our party who’ve grafted to donate the little bit that they have. ‘They need to know that we agree with them in terms of their anger, but also reassure them that we have had internal reform over the course of recent years, and that reform will make sure this doesn’t happen again.’ Mr Flynn, 37, seen as a potential future SNP leader, also admitted it was ‘nice’ to be tipped for the post by former colleagues, but downplayed the idea. Former SNP MP Joanna Cherry, KC, has repeatedly said the Aberdeen Deeside MSP should replace John Swinney, 62, in a break with the Nicola Sturgeon era. Stephen Flynn has not called for an inquiry despite being livid about the Murrell scandal Murrell, Ms Sturgeon’s estranged husband, pleaded guilty last week to embezzling more than £400,000 from SNP funds between 2012 and 2022. On a visit to the Edinburgh Food & Drink Academy to announce a £1.75million investment to support 44 young businesses, Mr Flynn was asked about the impact of the scandal. He said: ‘When I was working in Tesco in 2010 on a checkout, and donating a small amount of income to the Scottish National Party, I did that on the basis of my belief in independence, but I did so trusting the people who had responsibility for the expenditure of that money. ‘That trust that I put into the organisation, in particular Peter Murrell, has been betrayed. ‘I’m livid about that. I think party members will rightly be upset and angry as well.’ Asked about SNP members being ignored and vilified for raising questions about the SNP’s finances five years ago when the scandal first emerged, he said: ‘The First Minister has implemented positive change, and I’ve got confidence that the internal structures of the party, as they now stand, will ensure that this doesn’t happen again.’ Asked if SNP governance arrangements during Murrell’s 12 years of stealing were ‘inadequate’, he replied: ‘Yes. I’m making my assessment based upon what I’ve seen in the press, which has angered me massively.’ But he rejected a Holyrood or Westminster inquiry into the running of the SNP, echoing Mr Swinney’s argument that the police investigation had been enough. On Sunday, Ms Cherry told BBC Scotland: ‘I resigned from the SNP because I became ashamed to be a member. 'If the SNP changed its ways and had a new leader, perhaps somebody of the calibre of Stephen Flynn, I would think about rejoining.’ Asked if he was flattered, Mr Flynn said: ‘I have known Joanna for a number of years. We obviously worked very closely together in London, and it’s nice that she still regards me in a positive way. But, if I may, this is silly season. ‘The First Minister has just won a thumping election victory and has a mandate from the Scottish people to get on and deliver upon his manifesto commitments. ‘He’s getting to that work, I’m getting to that work, and we’re going to work in partnership to deliver for the Scottish people.’ Former Labour first minister Jack McConnell has suggested a joint inquiry between Holyrood and Westminster. No comments have so far been submitted. Why not be the first to send us your thoughts, or debate this issue live on our message boards. By posting your comment you agree to our house rules. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual. Do you want to automatically post your MailOnline comments to your Facebook Timeline? Your comment will be posted to MailOnline as usual We will automatically post your comment and a link to the news story to your Facebook timeline at the same time it is posted on MailOnline. To do this we will link your MailOnline account with your Facebook account. We’ll ask you to confirm this for your first post to Facebook. You can choose on each post whether you would like it to be posted to Facebook. Your details from Facebook will be used to provide you with tailored content, marketing and ads in line with our Privacy Policy.