Kemi Badenoch vows to separate the twin function of Scotland’s high legislation officer amid livid row over SNP embezzlement case
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch today vowed to split the dual role of Scotland’s top law officer amid a furious row over the SNP embezzlement case.
The Lord Advocate currently serves as the head of prosecutions in Scotland, as well as the Government’s chief legal adviser, and is appointed by the First Minister.
Mrs Badenoch hit out at the ‘absurd state of affairs’ that sees the current Lord Advocate, Dorothy Bain KC, be a member of the Scottish Government’s Cabinet.
It comes after it was revealed the Lord Advocate told First Minister John Swinney on January 19 that ex-SNP chief executive Peter Murrell was facing an embezzlement charge.
This was nearly a month before the accusation against Mr Murrell, who is the estranged husband of former SNP leader and ex-first minister Nicola Sturgeon, was made public.
Mr Swinney, the current SNP leader and Ms Sturgeon’s former deputy, has since defended the Lord Advocate as an ‘outstanding prosecutor’ with a record of ‘unimpeachable service’.
Addressing the Scottish Tory conference in Edinburgh on Friday, Mrs Badenoch said: ‘It is an absurd state of affairs that the Lord Advocate is currently in charge of an organisation prosecuting a case against a senior SNP figure whilst being in the SNP Government’s Cabinet.
‘Today, I can announce that the Conservatives would end this conflict of interest and split the Lord Advocate’s role so that this never happens again.’
Tory leader Kemi Badenoch today vowed to split the dual role of Scotland’s top law officer amid a furious row over the SNP embezzlement case
Peter Murrell, who is the estranged husband of former SNP leader and ex-first minister Nicola Sturgeon, is accused of embezzling almost £460,000 from the party
Mrs Badenoch hit out at the ‘absurd state of affairs’ that sees the current Lord Advocate, Dorothy Bain KC, be a member of the Scottish Government’s Cabinet
The role of Lord Advocate was enshrined in the Scotland Act – the legislation which formed the Scottish Parliament – meaning it would be for Westminster to make any change.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer last year told the First Minister to come up with proposals to scrap the dual role in the wake of the police investigation into the SNP’s finances.
Mr Murrell is accused of embezzling almost £460,000 from the SNP between August 2010 and January 2023.
The 61-year-old is alleged to have used the money to buy items including a motorhome and luxury goods, and towards the purchase of two cars.
In January last year, Ms Sturgeon announced she and Mr Murrell had ‘decided to end’ their marriage.
Ms Sturgeon, Scotland’s longest-serving first minister, announced her intention to resign from the role in February 2023.
In April of that year, a long-running probe into the SNP’s finances led to the arrest of Mr Murrell. Officers also searched the couple’s home in Uddingston near Glasgow.
Ms Sturgeon was arrested months afterwards but police later said she would face no action, and the MSP declared at the time she was ‘completely in the clear’.
