A former independent councillor who donated money to the 'ring-fenced' indyref2 crowdfunder has expressed feeling 'conned' after First Minister John Swinney acknowledged the SNP spent the cash on operational expenses.
Donor's Allegations
Michael Breslin, 73, and his wife contributed £150 to the fundraiser between 2017 and 2019, which raised £667,000 for a future independence referendum. Breslin, who was not an SNP member at the time, stated the donation was made in good faith, believing the funds would be ring-fenced. He described the SNP's actions as 'legally fraud' and 'bad faith,' as the crowdfunder was open to all independence supporters, not just party members.
The missing funds later became the focus of the Operation Branchform police investigation, leading to Peter Murrell's conviction for embezzling over £400,000 from the party. Murrell, former SNP chief executive and husband of Nicola Sturgeon, will be sentenced on Tuesday at the High Court in Edinburgh.
Swinney's Admission
When questioned last month about the £667,000 fund, Swinney conceded the money had been spent on SNP day-to-day costs, arguing it was 'part of the resources available within the Scottish National Party to support its independence objectives.' Breslin rejected this as a 'completely false argument,' emphasizing that the ring-fencing commitment changed the legal nature of the donation.
Breslin has called for police to reinvestigate the disappearance of the ring-fenced cash and would support a class action for affected donors. Police have so far declined to reopen the investigation. Swinney faces mounting pressure to launch an independent inquiry into the scandal.
Impact on Donors
Breslin revealed that when he asked for his money back after questions arose, the SNP claimed they had no record of his 2017 donation. He stated, 'My view is that the police ought to investigate this again afresh because of what Swinney has admitted to.' He added that the poor governance and accounting standards led him to stop voting SNP since 2021 and to quit the party in 2022.
Breslin emphasized the need for 'root-and-branch reform' of the SNP and the removal of senior figures, including Swinney, whom he believes must have been aware of the issues. He said, 'If he wasn't part of all this nonsense, then he certainly must have been aware of it.'
Broader Context
Donors are reportedly considering legal action against Nicola Sturgeon, who fronted the fundraising campaign after vowing to hold an indy vote in 2017. Sturgeon, who was arrested but released without charge during the Branchform investigation, has not commented on the latest developments.
Breslin, who served as an SNP councillor for Dunoon from 2012 until quitting a year later over a care home closure, rejoined the SNP in 2019 but left again in 2022 due to the missing indyref2 cash and wider disillusionment. He concluded, 'The culture was rotten. That's why I left the SNP.'
