Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP), has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison for embezzling £400,310.65 from the party. The sentence was handed down by Lord Young at the High Court in Edinburgh on [date]. Murrell, who is the estranged husband of former SNP leader and Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, pleaded guilty to the charges last month.
Details of the Crime
Lord Young described Murrell's actions as a “calculated crime of dishonesty,” involving a “large number of fraudulent acts over a 12-month period while you were chief executive officer of the SNP.” The judge noted that the offending increased in frequency and amount over time, adding: “You found yourself unable to stop this offending, and it was only the detection of the crime that brought it to an end.”
Murrell used the embezzled funds for extravagant purchases, including a £124,550 motorhome, cars, jewellery, luxury homewares, and designer stationery. The court heard that he made 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 submitted false expense claims, disguising the purchases with misleading descriptions in the party’s finance system.
Examples of Fraudulent Purchases
Among the misdescribed items was a robotic lawnmower costing £3,070, which was recorded as “legal fees.” A silver wine coaster worth £3,500 was listed as “leadership expenses.” The embezzlement occurred over a 12-year period between August 2010 and October 2022.
Investigation and Aftermath
The offending came to light after police received complaints about potential mismanagement of SNP finances in March 2021. This led to Operation Branchform, a police investigation that uncovered evidence of Murrell’s embezzlement. Murrell’s lawyer, John Scullion KC, presented pleas in mitigation, stating that his client had lived in “almost total isolation” for many months and had been “ostracised” by former colleagues, becoming a “figure of public ridicule.”
Murrell’s guilty plea has intensified scrutiny on Nicola Sturgeon, who has denied any knowledge of the crimes, saying she was “deceived, misled and betrayed.” Sturgeon was arrested and questioned as part of the investigation but faced no action. The case has prompted widespread calls for inquiries into Murrell’s wrongdoing.
