Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and estranged husband of ex-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison after admitting to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party over a 12-year period. The sentence, handed down at the High Court in Edinburgh on May 25, marks a dramatic fall from grace for a man once considered half of Scotland's most powerful political couple.
Embezzlement Details and Timeline
Murrell, 61, pleaded guilty to embezzling £400,310.65 from the SNP between August 2010 and October 2022. The funds came primarily from membership fees, donations, and legacies during a period when the party experienced a surge in popularity following the 2014 independence referendum. His lawyer stated that Murrell has been “ostracised” by former colleagues and has not commented publicly on the case.
The embezzlement came to light as part of Police Scotland's Operation Branchform, an investigation into the SNP's finances launched in July 2021 after seven complaints were made regarding party donations. In April 2023, police raided Murrell and Sturgeon's home near Glasgow, erecting a blue tent outside the property, and simultaneously searched the SNP's Edinburgh headquarters.
Murrell's Role and Relationship with Sturgeon
Murrell served as SNP chief executive from 1999 until his resignation in March 2023, overseeing the party's day-to-day operations and its rise to power in Scotland. He met Sturgeon through party work in the late 1980s, and they were publicly in a relationship from 2003, marrying in 2010. Sturgeon, six years his junior, became first minister in 2014 after Alex Salmond's resignation and served until February 2023. The couple announced their separation in January 2025, with Sturgeon stating they “still care deeply for each other and always will.”
Questions about the couple's close working and personal relationship were raised during Sturgeon's leadership, but they maintained a strict division of power. In a 2024 documentary, Salmond said he had privately warned them that the press would exploit their relationship if the SNP faced difficulties.
Downfall and Legal Proceedings
Murrell's downfall began in February 2023 when Sturgeon unexpectedly resigned as first minister and SNP leader. The following month, Murrell resigned as chief executive after incorrect membership figures were briefed to the media, revealing that 30,000 members had left the party in a year. In April 2023, police raided his home, and he was later arrested and charged with embezzlement.
During the latter years of Sturgeon's leadership, some party members complained about a lack of financial transparency. In June 2021, Sturgeon said she was “not concerned” about finances despite two high-profile resignations. Allegations emerged that hundreds of thousands of pounds raised for independence campaigning were diverted elsewhere.
Murrell was remanded in custody at the High Court in Edinburgh on May 25 after his guilty plea. Sturgeon stepped down as an MSP before the May 2025 Scottish Parliament elections. The sentence concludes a long-running investigation that has deeply shaken the SNP.
