Nicola Sturgeon has branded Tory MP David Davis a “coward” and accused him of lying after he used parliamentary privilege to claim she knew about her husband Peter Murrell’s crimes. Murrell, the former SNP chief executive, was jailed last month for embezzling more than £400,000 of party funds. Sturgeon has consistently denied any knowledge of his actions.
Sturgeon hits back at Davis
In a statement issued through her lawyer Aamer Anwar, Sturgeon said: “This member of the ‘Old Boys Club’ has been spreading conspiracy theories on behalf of the late Alex Salmond since 2021 - and now he is telling more lies about me. The fact that he hides like a coward behind the legal privilege of Westminster says everything we need to know about him.” Davis, an ally of the late Alex Salmond, had earlier told the House of Commons: “My view on her denials is clear. She is lying. She knew full well what her husband was doing and how those luxury purchases were funded.”
Allegations of cover-up
Davis also accused Sturgeon of the “evil act” of “stitching up” Alex Salmond to “hide the truth”. Salmond faced sexual assault allegations in 2019 but was acquitted after a trial. Davis said: “It now appears clear that these actions to destroy a man's reputation and life were motivated by a desire to hide their own crimes.” He called for a judicial inquiry into the scandal, stating: “There's a clear pattern of secrecy, obstruction, and power used to protect power, a pattern started by Sturgeon. Scotland needs a fresh start. That starts with a judicial inquiry into this entire sordid scandal because it's a scandal that cost Alex Salmond his life.”
Parliamentary privilege used
Davis made his claims under parliamentary privilege, which protects MPs from being sued for defamation for statements made in the House of Commons. Sturgeon’s legal team responded swiftly, with Anwar releasing the statement denouncing Davis as a coward. The former first minister has not commented further publicly.
