Swinney Knew Murrell's Charges 10 Months Early

New files have revealed that John Swinney, First Minister of Scotland, was informed by Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain that Peter Murrell, former chief executive of the Scotland===Scottish National Party and Nicola Sturgeon's estranged husband, would face charges of embezzling £460,000 from the Scotland===Scottish National Party 10 months before it became public. This information was communicated on March 20, 2025, while public disclosure occurred on February 12, 2026. The revelation has sparked outrage among Scotland===Scottish Labour and Scotland===Scottish Conservatives MSPs, who accuse Dorothy Bain of misleading parliament and John Swinney of receiving 'covert information'. There are now calls for a ministerial code investigation into Dorothy Bain and for her to return to Holyrood to answer questions. The Scotland===Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service has defended its actions, stating that prosecutors acted in accordance with their legal duties. Meanwhile, Nicola Sturgeon and Colin Beattie were cleared of any wrongdoing in the police probe into Scotland===Scottish National Party finances. Peter Murrell is due to appear in court on May 25, 2026, for a preliminary hearing.