Nicola Sturgeon has been pictured for the first time since her estranged husband Peter Murrell was jailed for embezzling party funds. The former Scottish First Minister was seen enjoying wine outdoors in west London just days after Murrell began a five-year sentence at HMP Dumfries.
Sturgeon spotted dining in Notting Hill
On Sunday, Sturgeon dined at Golborne Bistro in Notting Hill with human rights lawyer Claire Mitchell KC. Onlookers reported that the pair chatted happily for several hours, with Sturgeon appearing relaxed while sipping wine in the sun. The bistro specialises in Anglo-Mediterranean dishes.
The outing comes as Sturgeon files for divorce from Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP).
Murrell's embezzlement case
Murrell admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP over a 12-year period. He used the stolen funds to purchase a motorhome, cars, jewellery, and luxury goods, some of which were gifted to Sturgeon. Sturgeon has not been charged in connection with the case.
The former First Minister was arrested as part of the investigation into the stolen party funds after stepping down from her leadership role in 2023, but no charges were brought against her. Sturgeon has consistently denied any knowledge of Murrell's crimes.
Calls for release of Sturgeon's statement
Politicians have called for Sturgeon's written statement to the police to be made public. Reports indicate that detectives were frustrated by some of her responses during the investigation. After providing a 'no comment' interview to Police Scotland, her follow-up written statement allegedly failed to address certain points.
Senior officers have raised concerns about Sturgeon's claim that she had no 'conscious memory' of seeing a £124,000 motorhome parked outside her mother-in-law's home, according to the Daily Mail.
Political reactions
Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton said: "There is nothing stopping Nicola Sturgeon publishing that statement, so she should do so immediately. If she fails to do so, she has no right complaining about the suspicion and innuendo surrounding her – because she will be fuelling it."
Hamilton added: "What Sturgeon knew, what she told police and why she wasn't charged are just some of the issues that a parliamentary inquiry into the Murrell scandal would address."
Aamer Anwar, Sturgeon's lawyer, countered that "anonymous sources" had "desperately tried to insinuate guilt" despite Sturgeon never being charged. He stated: "Ms Sturgeon is innocent of any crime... it was Mr Murrell who was charged, tried, convicted and imprisoned for his crimes."
