Peter Murrell, the disgraced former SNP chief executive, was jailed today after pleading guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party over a 12-year period. Prosecutors revealed he used bogus account codes and fake invoices to hide his tracks while spending party funds on luxury items such as cars, coffee machines, jewellery, cosmetics, gardening equipment, and a £24,000 pen collection.
How Murrell Misappropriated Funds
In a statement to the High Court in Edinburgh, the Crown detailed that Murrell, as CEO, had direct access to the SNP's principal bank account, which was largely funded by membership fees, donations, and legacies. He made direct transfers and used his party charge card, as well as those of two other staff members, to make personal purchases without their knowledge.
The party used accounting software to record income and expenditure. Murrell provided misleading descriptions and accounting codes for hundreds of purchases. For example, he bought two Bremont watches for £9,350.25 in June and July 2017, recording them as 'event merchandise'. A £332 travel watch roll from Smythson was coded as 'staff expenses' and described as 'Double Tree The Glasgow City Hotel'.
Extensive Amazon Spending
Over 12 years, Murrell made 383 purchases from Amazon using party charge cards, totaling £42,660.74. Items were delivered to his home, party headquarters, or family members' addresses. He also submitted false expenses claims, which he had ultimate approval of, receiving £18,408.91 on four occasions between January 2019 and September 2020.
Fake Invoices and False Entries
To cover his tracks, Murrell created fake invoices. One false invoice for £12,042 from Apple was based on a genuine invoice from the party's purchases. He added a false entry on the Fixed Asset Register for an 'Apple processor', which was never purchased. Another false invoice for £2,478 from Manufactum was sent to auditors when they queried a payment. Murrell claimed it was for studio light fittings, but no such lights were bought; instead, he used his own money to purchase unrelated items, including a lawn aerator and garden edger found in his garage.
The Crown noted that a genuine invoice from Manufactum for the same amount was found at Murrell's home during a police search in April 2023. Other items, including a £2,055 'Modern doorbell', were not recovered.
Impact and Sentencing
Murrell, 61, served as SNP chief executive from 2001 to 2023, while his estranged wife Nicola Sturgeon was Scotland's first minister from 2014 to 2023. He was jailed today after pleading guilty to embezzling funds between 2010 and 2022. The court heard that the embezzlement involved a breach of trust over a prolonged period, with Murrell using his position to divert party funds for personal gain.
