Sir Keir Starmer, leader of the Labour Party, has accused the Scottish National Party (SNP) of feigning ignorance regarding the embezzlement activities of its former chief executive, Peter Murrell. Murrell, who is also the ex-husband of former SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, was sentenced to five years and three months in prison after being found guilty of embezzling more than £400,000 from the party over a 12-year span.

Court documents detailed Murrell’s use of the stolen funds, which included purchases such as a £124,550 motorhome, two vehicles, a space telescope, and a coffee machine valued at £3,232. During Prime Minister’s Questions in the House of Commons, Starmer challenged the SNP, urging them to confront “home truths” before offering advice to his party or the government.

Starmer’s remarks came in response to a question from SNP Westminster leader Dave Doogan concerning the UK government’s Defence Investment Plan (DIP). Doogan criticized the plan as “paper thin” and expressed concern over the government’s approach to defence spending, suggesting it failed to adequately address ongoing security threats. Starmer, before addressing the allegations against Murrell, criticized the SNP’s stance on national defence, referencing the party’s opposition to the UK’s nuclear deterrent.

“Before he or any of them give any more advice to me or this House, let’s have some home truths,” Starmer stated. “Their chief executive has just been jailed for five years for embezzlement. They’re all pretending they didn’t know anything about it. They couldn’t even see the motorhome parked in the driveway, apparently. And now they’re blocking an inquiry into the Scottish Parliament. Before they offer any more advice, they should look in the mirror.”

The SNP has rejected implications that the party was aware of Murrell’s criminal activities. A spokesperson for the party said the embezzlement was uncovered through a “complex police investigation” and emphasized that the SNP was a victim of the fraud. The spokesperson’s statement sought to distance the party leadership from any prior knowledge of Murrell’s misconduct.

The case has heightened scrutiny of governance and financial oversight within the SNP, prompting calls for greater transparency. Meanwhile, the debate over defence policy continues to be a contentious issue between the UK government and the SNP, reflecting wider political disagreements.