Ex-councillor claims SNP misused independence referendum fundraiser money

Sunday, June 21, 2026

Former independent councillor Michael Breslin has accused the SNP of misusing £667,000 raised through a crowdfunder intended exclusively for a future Scottish independence referendum, leading to a police investigation and the conviction of former SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell for embezzlement. The controversy has sparked calls for an independent inquiry as First Minister John Swinney admitted the funds were used for general party expenses, not strictly for independence campaigning as donors were led to believe.

A former independent councillor has accused the Scottish National Party (SNP) of misusing funds raised through a crowdfunder for a potential future independence referendum. Michael Breslin and his wife, neither of whom were SNP members at the time, donated £150 to the “ring-fenced” IndyRef2 crowdfunder between 2017 and 2019. The fundraiser collected a total of £667,000 intended to support efforts toward another referendum on Scottish independence.

The issue came to light after it was revealed that the money was absent from party accounts, which sparked a police investigation known as Operation Branchform. This investigation led to the conviction of Peter Murrell, the former SNP Chief Executive, who pleaded guilty to embezzling over £400,000 from the party. Murrell is due to be sentenced in the High Court in Edinburgh later this week.

John Swinney, Scotland’s First Minister and SNP Deputy Leader, acknowledged last month that the crowdfunded money had been spent on the SNP’s routine operational expenses. He described the funds as “part of the resources available within the Scottish National Party to support its independence objectives.” However, Breslin strongly disputed this explanation, asserting that the funds were explicitly solicited as ring-fenced for independence campaigning and were open to anyone supporting that cause, not solely SNP members.

“I feel aggrieved. I think we’ve been conned,” Breslin said. “The party asking for the money gave a commitment it would be ring-fenced. I did it in good faith. They acted in bad faith.” He further asserted that the use of the funds outside their stated purpose could constitute legal fraud.

Breslin has called for the police to reopen the investigation in light of Swinney’s admission, though authorities have so far declined to take further action. He also expressed support for a class action lawsuit on behalf of those who contributed to the fundraiser and feel their donations were misappropriated.

Amid growing public concern over the handling of the crowdfunded money, Swinney faces increasing pressure to initiate an independent inquiry into the scandal to restore confidence in how the SNP manages funds linked to the independence movement. The party has yet to announce any formal steps toward such an investigation.