Minor point here Peter Murrell isnt a politician. A few people above have referred to him as such.
I guess it depends on the definition you use.
Whilst in the UK its normally used for those in an elected role he does look to meet the more general one about being professionally involved in politics.
Private Eye mentioned that in the last issue. Reference in their last accounts to ~80k on motor vehicles.
OK, I think I actually read the first couple of paragraphs of that over my brekkie, then saw the BBC story and somehow conflated the two.
😀
I guess it depends on the definition you use.
It really doesn't unless it suits the narrative.
Dodgy dealings in politics etc !!! Never 🤣
Minor point here Peter Murrell isnt a politician.
So only people who win an election are politicians?
I think it is fair to describe someone who has worked full-time for a political party and is a former chief executive of the SNP as a politician.
Unless you also want to deny that people who sit in the House of Commons aren't "politicians"? Goddamnit some aren't even members of political parties!
"Political figure" would be my suggestion.
So thats the second case of SNP employee/politician stealing from Independence funds, ooops!
“Political figure” would be my suggestion.
Or perhaps "professionally involved in politics".
It really doesn’t unless it suits the narrative.
Its a valid usage although not one I would generally use myself.
So thats the second case of SNP employee/politician stealing from Independence funds, ooops!
No wonder they lost!
Shame the brexiteers hadnt done the same.
I think it's been almost 500 years since the parliamentary forces arrested anyone in England.
Unlike some other parliaments I could mention, in Scotland we arrest our politicians:)
I don't think this is a good day for more Scottish smugness about their self-perceived superiority to others. The current and last UK prime ministers have both been fined by police. Beyond that, Jonathan Aitkin, Jeffrey Archer, David Chaytor, Jim Devine, Elliot Morley, Eric Illsley, Denis MacShane, John Taylor, Paul White, Fiona Onasanya, Chris Huhne, Imran Ahmed Khan and Charlie Elphick were all UK politicians investigated, arrested, charged and convicted of criminal offences. (White was acquitted after).
The current and last UK prime ministers have both been fined by police.
I know she only served as PM for 49 days but will people please remember Liz Truss.
She did after all dramatically improve Labour's chances of forming a majority government.
A similar amount of time as pantomime season.
please remember Liz Truss
Who?😜
@dissonance I'd rather not be in the UK so I'll happily accept your other definition
@ Ernie I'll happily say that someone who does back office work for a political party isn't a politician. It becomes less clear perhaps when they have a policy making or strategic role but I don't think lobbyists or the various types of advisors think of themselves as politicians.
Perhaps there's a case for greater public oversight of the lobbyists and advisers.
someone who does back office work
The ruling National Executive Committee of the SNP is a back office?
Oxford Dictionary
a person whose job is concerned with politics, especially as an elected member of a legislature (= governing body)
I'd say being Chairman of a political party and working for that party in one role or another for pretty much his whole career and being married to the (former) party leader qualifies as a job concerned with politics.
I’d say being Chairman of a political party and working for that party in one role or another for pretty much his whole career and being married to the (former) party leader qualifies as a job concerned with politics.
Being chairman of the SNP makes you no more a politician than Elon Musk is an astronaut or rocket scientist. As for who he's married to, that's the most ridiculous argument yet.
Whether he was a ‘politician’ or not there is no denying this is a politically significant arrest. It had the possibility of affecting the leadership result and, depending on how it goes may well taint Sturgeon’s political reputation & legacy. It may well also influence the SNP’s future and that of the Independence movement. So I don’t think it particularly matters what you think his job status is
Whether he was a ‘politician’ or not there is no denying this is a politically significant arrest. It had the possibility of affecting the leadership result and, depending on how it goes may well taint Sturgeon’s political reputation & legacy. It may well also influence the SNP’s future and that of the Independence movement.
Agree.
So I don’t think it particularly matters what you think his job status is
Don't agree.
A politician is an elected representative or someone within government and as such any allegations of criminality carry far more baggage.
Yeah it is probably best to just describe Peter Murrell as 'a person whose job is concerned with politics'.
Or a 'politician' according to the Oxford dictionary.
https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/politician
I don’t think this is a good day for more Scottish smugness about their self-perceived superiority to others.
It's always a good day for more Scottish smugness about our self-perceived superiority to others.
Call me when Carrie gets arrested for appalling taste in wallpaper.
What are the cops digging up their front lawn hoping to find? Any suggestions
are the cops digging up their front lawn
No.
Or not as far as I've seen.
Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell arrested in SNP finance probe - BBC News
It's been reported that under that blue tent, there are cops with spades...
What are the cops digging up their front lawn hoping to find? Any suggestions
I imagine Douglas Ross has hammered frozen sausages into the lawn
Nicola Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell arrested in SNP finance probe – BBC News
It’s been reported that under that blue tent, there are cops with spades…
Where has that been reported? because its certainly not in the BBC article that you liked to which seems to give credence to your words. I'm not sure there's any need to make stuff up (or repeat unsubstantiated rumour) - theres enough of a story as it is. Perhaps worth a reminder that publication of anything that might impact a future trial is an offence in Scotland from the moment of arrest.
I hope they were finest Scotish Angus Beef sausages !
Where has that been reported?
I was trying to work out if it was a joke I wasn't getting.
They had spades......and hearts, clubs and diamonds maybe.
What are the cops digging up their front lawn hoping to find? Any suggestions
Carrots 🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕🥕
Being chairman of the SNP makes you no more a politician than Elon Musk is an astronaut or rocket scientist
The chief exec is chosen by the NEC I think? If so, your analogy doesn't work.
Where has that been reported? because its certainly not in the BBC article that you liked to which seems to give credence to your words
Pics on Daily Mail website if you can bare to look!
Here you go. Good honest journalism.
Officers with spades were this afternoon spotted digging in the garden of the modest family home the couple share.
Here you go. Good honest journalism.
I liked the "Police with riot shields" caption under a photo of some cops taking stuff out of the back of a van with a single shield leaning against the door.
Two possibilities:
Either they are ready for a riot (with one shield)
or
It was just in the back of the van and they took it out to get to all the other gear they routinely have in there.
Doesnt seem to be any evidence of them digging inside that tent and it doesnt seem overly likely. Its an unfenced/hedged/anything garden right next to the road.
Whilst I have never felt the need to dig holes to hide things I think my first criteria would be a location which isnt easily observed by dogwalkers/people driving home etc etc.
Perhaps worth a reminder that publication of anything that might impact a future trial is an offence in Scotland from the moment of arrest.
This ain't true, hoss.
As for who he’s married to, that’s the most ridiculous argument yet.
Just out of interest, do you think it is credible that Sturgeon's husband "loaned" the SNP £107,000 but didn't mention it until after the fact, and that Sturgeon didn't remember when she heard about it?
And if you do, do you think that a power couple that chucks £100,000s with such gay abandon can really be in touch with ordinary Scottish people?
Officers with spades were this afternoon spotted digging in the garden of the modest family home the couple share... Officers with spades were this afternoon spotted digging in the garden of the modest family home the couple share, focusing on the area around their bins.
Doesnt seem to be any evidence of them digging inside that tent and it doesnt seem overly likely.
I mean, it wouldn't surprise me for a second if the Daily Mail just made it up, because they're an awful rag, but FTR no-one said the cops were digging inside the tent, did they?
Here you go. Good honest journalism.
The headline says shovels but the article says spades.
I believe in calling a spade a spade, not a shovel.
Maybe they had shovels and spades?
Well they should have said so...."spades and shovels"
Sloppy journalism, no excuse.
Just out of interest, do you think it is credible that Sturgeon’s husband “loaned” the SNP £107,000 but didn’t mention it until after the fact, and that Sturgeon didn’t remember when she heard about it?
And if you do, do you think that a power couple that chucks £100,000s with such gay abandon can really be in touch with ordinary Scottish people?
FWIW no, I'm just making the point that who he is married to has absolutely no relevance as to his occupation. As far as we know Sturgeon isn't being investigated so isn't relevant (although still stretching the limits of credibility it wouldn't be the first time someone has hidden dodgy financial transactions from a partner, just look at gambling addicts).
Something I've found oddly interesting over the last few weeks .... Outside of this thread - across the various social medias I consume which are mostly populated by Scottish friends and colleagues - these events just dont seem to have been a talking point.
Up to the point of Sturgeon's resignation if there had been an annoncemt or initiative by the governent I'd see id see it commented on, shared, amplified in some way every day or so before I actually read it as news.
Her resignation caused a stir, the leadership campaign a little less so - and where I saw mention it was people with SNP membership asking openly who they should best vote for as they didnt really have a ready favorite. That died down in the closing days of the campaign to silence. The actual result - unmentioned. it seemed no-one was either excited or disappointed by the outcome sufficiently to comment. Revelations about membership. Unmentioned. Today's arrest - unmentioned. Sat having lunch with a couple of dozen colllegeas - didnt come up in conversation at all.
Something really quite significant is going on but I'm really surprised how far from people's thoughts and conversations it all seems to be.
@Ernie I didn't claim that the national executive committee of the SNP was a back office.
I also said that the issue was less clear when individuals have a role in policy making or strategy.
For what it's worth I thought it was wrong for Murrell to be chief exec when NS was deputy leader nevermind leader.
Now we (SNP members) have this shitshow to deal with
