Peter Murrell embezzlement trial

[Sunnnyday]

Peter Murrell is in court in Edinburgh today. This is for the preliminary hearing which was postponed from before the election. It will be interesting to see how the criminal proceedings proceed.

www.msn.com/en-gb/news/uknews/peter-murrell-arrives-at-court-ahead-of-hearing-on-embezzlement-charges/ar-AA23Ybuy?ocid=msedgntp&pc

We will have to agree to disagree.

Too far.

I just can’t believe the country has come to this. I used to be proud of Scotland and of being Scottish but this SNP government has run it into the ground and are criminally corrupt

Yet still voted in a month ago...

Which is what makes me so sad and disappointed in the country I love. Is this the best we can get? Don’t we deserve more?

This

There’s a dearth of quality politicians. They’re all in it for themselves. Everyone is talking about it, my hairdresser, nail girl, taxi drivers, people at work, social media. Normal people are disillusioned

Let’s see what’s said in mitigation on 23rd!

Agreed

I agree. The whole situation is so farcical that it can only be laughed at.

We get what we vote for. There’s a term for it. It’s called “democracy”.

“Nail girl”, seriously?

And here we go yet again with the derailing.

Yes. Her nail girl. The girl who does her nails. An example of people who she has interacted with who are ALL talking about the criminality, who knew what, motorhomes, clicky pens, sloggi pants etc etc.

Yes, and the fact politicians now are career politicians with no idea of the workings of the real world: a lot of them have their own businesses, like nails and hair and can’t believe the lack of quality

Lots of talk about the need for a new approach, hope it happens!

This is exactly the problem. I went out and voted as I hugely believe in the democratic process. However, couldn’t even tell you their name as they are just another faceless wonder who is supposedly representing me in parliament but in reality representing themselves.

Scotland used to have quite a formidable bunch of politicians over the years but now so many are just in it for themselves.

Have you ever written to them with an issue? I have on a number of occasions and my (Labour) SNP has been excellent. He’s intelligent, responsive and incredibly efficient at sorting out issues.

would they come after any assets owned by his mother, assuming these may in future be left to Peter (and any siblings he may have)?

I wouldn’t think so-how can they go after something he doesn’t own?
I don’t know if they can apply POCA retrospectively at some point down the line though, if he were to inherit…is it like bankruptcy which has a (I think) 6 year limit?

When Tricia Marwick was my MSP, she was excellent and replied straight away the one time I wrote to her.

I've written at least twice to Jenny Gilruth and have never had a reply.

When I wrote to Richard Baker, our local (Labour) MP, recently he replied straight away.

Deidre Brock never once replied to me. I’ve moved now but heard good things about the local Labour guy.

During Covid when Swinney came up with their "blended learning" nonsense which would have had my kids in about 30% of the time I fired off emails to everyone I could think of - constituency MSPs, list MSPs, education spokespeople, leaders from every single party.

Did get a response from my constituency SNP MSP but it was clearly a copy/paste saying what a marvellous job Swinney was doing as education secretary and how he totally supported the measures. Nothing from Labour/Green, not even an automated response. Best response was from Annabel Goldie who responded very quickly and with a personalised email not a copy/paste.

I've written at least twice to Jenny Gilruth and have never had a reply.

I know people who rate her very highly as a constituency MSP even though very opposed to her politics so different impression from yours. However, as a member of government I've yet to see her do anything so to me she's just another promoted beyond her mediocre capabilities. Maybe she'll do better as Finance Secretary but I very much doubt it.

I've had responses in the past from Liam Kerr, Maurice Golden and Mercedes Vilalba which were helpful. Also a standard response from Maggie Person Person following the party line.

I wrote to all the MSPs for my area, asking them to support the Lamont amendment.

She was the only one who failed to respond. I got immediate responses from the Tories and Labour, all supporting the amendment.

The Green chap disagreed with me, but at least took the time to send a reply.

My experience of politicians is the ones in power (of whatever stripe) often don’t bother. The ones in opposition are keen to engage, often because that way they can see issues that can be used to hold the government to account. This has been true of MPs, MSPs and even at local level.

Very true @Cismyfatarse (love your username btw! 💪)