Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell is due to be sentenced on Tuesday after admitting to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party. The 61-year-old used the funds for extravagant purchases, including a £124,550 motorhome, cars, jewellery, luxury homewares, and designer stationery. He also falsified accounting records and created fake invoices to cover up his wrongdoing.
Details of the Embezzlement
Murrell pleaded guilty last month to embezzling a total of £400,310.65 over a 12-year period between August 2010 and October 2022. He is currently held on remand and is expected to arrive at the High Court in Edinburgh in a prison van to be sentenced by judge Lord Young. Proceedings for recovering the embezzled funds are also expected to be discussed.
The court previously heard that Murrell’s role enabled him to make direct transfers from the party’s main bank account, which held funds from membership fees, donations, and legacies. He also used multiple party charge cards and made false expense claims. To avoid suspicion, he gave purchases misleading descriptions or accounting codes in the party’s finance system.
Specific Purchases and Cover-Up
For example, a robotic lawnmower purchased for £3,070 was misdescribed as “legal fees” in the SNP’s accounting software, while a silver wine coaster worth £3,500 was listed as “leadership expenses.” Murrell’s offending came to light after police received complaints about potential mismanagement of SNP finances in March 2021, leading to an investigation that uncovered evidence of embezzlement.
Impact on Nicola Sturgeon
Murrell’s guilty plea has brought intense scrutiny to his former wife, Nicola Sturgeon, who has denied knowing of his crimes, stating she was “deceived, misled and betrayed.” The former SNP leader said she was “completely exonerated” after a two-year-long police investigation, which included a search of the home she shared with Murrell. Sturgeon was arrested and questioned as part of Operation Branchform, but Police Scotland confirmed she would face no action.
Calls for Inquiries
The case has sparked widespread calls for inquiries. Former first minister Lord Jack McConnell suggested a joint inquiry by Holyrood and Westminster committees. Shadow Scottish secretary Andrew Bowie urged Westminster’s Scottish Affairs Committee to investigate. However, the Scottish Government has resisted, with First Minister John Swinney previously stating an inquiry was unnecessary given the detailed police investigation. The Scottish Affairs Committee has considered launching its own probe and has written to Commons authorities to determine how much short money—public funds for opposition parties—was given to the SNP during Murrell’s crimes, as well as safeguards against misuse.
