John Swinney says the SNP has opened discussions with HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) regarding whether VAT claims connected to former party chief executive Peter Murrell involved illegality. Multiple reports state the conversations focus on whether accounting linked to purchases made through or by Murrell resulted in VAT reclaimed by the party that may not be valid. The Scotsman reports that the SNP and HMRC are in talks over whether Murrell’s falsifying of accounting records led to VAT fraud, while other outlets describe the issue more generally as “potential” illegal VAT claims. The Evening Standard and Sky News (UK) both report that Swinney confirms the SNP has started discussions following Murrell’s embezzlement of more than £400,000. The Daily Mail similarly frames the matter as a possible VAT probe into whether the SNP reclaimed VAT on bogus purchases attributed to Murrell. Taken together, the reports indicate HMRC involvement is under consideration, and the SNP is engaging with the tax authority to clarify whether its VAT treatment connected to those purchases complied with tax rules.