The Peter Murrell scandal surely moves John Swinney one step closer to the exit as SNP leader – and Stephen Flynn one step closer to wearing the crown of thorns which the leadership of the party now represents.

Swinney’s deflections, obfuscations and refusal to answer questions over Peter Murrell’s theft of £400,000 of party funds has left him reeling like a punchy boxer in the final round of a fight.

Perhaps both men can discuss when the coronation will take place on their jaunt to the USA to back Scotland in the World Cup.

I now wonder if the SNP would have won the number of votes they did in the recent Holyrood election had Murrell’s full levels of deceit and criminality been revealed before ballot boxes went out.

We can only guess at where many voters who did vote SNP may have placed their X had they known the brazen levels of chicanery and villainy involved in the long-running fraud.

The arrogant behaviour of those at the top of the SNP, from Nicola Sturgeon through to the current first minister, has now so scunnered many former supporters of independence (and I was once........

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