John Swinney promises "every penny" of SNP donations will be well spent after former chief executive charged

dailyrecord.co.uk:

John Swinney has promised “every penny” raised for the SNP will be spent “appropriately” in the wake of a former party chief executive getting charged.The First Minister gave a “personal assurance” after Peter Murrell was charged in connection with embezzlement of SNP funds.Murrell, husband of Nicola Sturgeon, was recently charged as part of the Operation Branchform police probe into how indyref2 funds were spent.His long stint as CEO predated Swinney taking over as party leader last month.Speaking at the SNP general election launch in Glasgow, the Record asked if members and donors could have faith about how party money is spent.He replied: “All I would say to party members and to donors is I give you my personal assurance that every penny raised for the Scottish National Party will be spent effectively and appropriately on the Scottish National Party election campaign and winning independence.”Swinney and his colleagues also used the launch to attack Labour for supporting Brexit.He hit out at successive Tory Governments for what he said was disrespect to Holyrood.Predecessor Humza Yousaf framed the contest as a battle between the SNP and the Tories.However, Swinney has changed tack by directing most of his fire on Labour as opinion polls show the SNP losing dozens of seats to Keir Starmer’s party.Swinney said: “I’m not saying Labour are exactly the same as the Tories – they’re not.

But they are giving an awfully good impersonation of them.“The only substantive change Labour seem to be offering is to change their own core principles.“Let me give you one really telling – and worrying – example.“Their health spokesman – Wes Streeting – the man who in a few weeks’ time will be the UK Government’s health secretary – last