A TORY MSP has been reported to Scottish parliamentary authorities for alleged “bullying” after backing JK Rowling amid a row over Peter Murrell’s criminal activities and Nicola Sturgeon.
On Monday, Murrell pleaded guilty to embezzling around £400,000 from the SNP over 12 years, leading Sturgeon – his estranged wife – to insist that she’d had “no knowledge or suspicion whatsoever that personal items had been purchased using SNP funds”.
Tory MSP Murdo Fraser was among those questioning the former first minister’s statement, writing: “Peter Murrell has now admitted to stealing the best part of half a million pounds from the SNP. Is it credible that his wife knew nothing of this? As party leader, was she not curious?
“And if the SNP can steal from themselves, what are they capable of doing to the country?”
Kelly Given, a columnist for The National, suggested the Tory MSP had been “misogynistic” in his attacks on Sturgeon. She also branded JK Rowling a “shitebag” after the author waded into the debate on Fraser’s side.
Given responded to Fraser by saying: “A man has literally admitted to the crime, but let’s hold his wife responsible instead. Nothing misogynistic to see here.”
A man has literally admitted to the crime, but let’s hold his wife responsible instead. Nothing misogynistic to see here. 👍🏼 https://t.co/c0h9hrlJmw
— Kelly Given (@kellylgiven) May 25, 2026
The Tory MSP then said: “What an imbecilic comment. This is a day of shame for the SNP, we need to hear apologies, not excuses and deflection.”
Rowling also screenshotted and reshared Given’s comment – meaning she would not have been notified that the author had responded to her – writing: “You appear not to understand the difference between 'instead' and 'as well'.”
Given then said: “I’m well aware of the difference. I used ‘instead’ because she seems to be getting more heat than he is, but you know that already.
“Tag me next time, shitebag.”
Fraser reshared Rowling’s post, and then separately wrote: “Only here to see Kelly Given being roasted by JKR.”
Scots singer Iona Fyfe suggested that Fraser may have been in breach of section seven of the Parliamentary Code of Conduct, which says that MSPs must not engage in “bullying, harassment (including sexual harassment), or any other inappropriate behaviour”.
“I hope Kelly reports Mr Fraser for this bullying dogpile,” Fyfe said.
Given responded that she had “already submitted” a complaint and urged others to join her.
Elsewhere on Tuesday, former SNP MP Joanna Cherry questioned Sturgeon’s position, telling the BBC: “Nicola Sturgeon is very keen to paint herself as the victim here and to underline she is not guilty of any criminality.
“But what she is guilty of is a remarkable lack of curiosity and deliberate frustration of the attempts of those of us who were curious.”
In a statement released through lawyer Aamer Anwar, the former first minister said she and Murrell had had separate bank accounts, and she had no access to his financial records.
“In relation to many of the items in question, for example expensive watches and games consoles, I was not aware of them having been purchased at all,” she said.
Sturgeon claimed she was “not aware” of the existence of a campervan purchased with party funds in 2021 until two years later when “it featured in the police investigation in early 2023”.
Adding that she and Murrell were “both earning high salaries”, Sturgeon said: “In respect of any items I was aware of Peter having purchased, I had no reason to doubt that he had used his own money.”
She also stressed she was “cleared of any wrongdoing after a lengthy and thorough investigation” by Police Scotland.
