Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and ex-husband of Nicola Sturgeon, has pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party. The admission came at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday, where it was revealed he used the stolen funds between 2010 and 2022 to finance a lavish lifestyle, including luxury watches, a motor home, a Jaguar SUV, and designer cosmetics.
Lord Young described Murrell's actions as a 'gross breach of trust' and remanded him in custody. He now faces a lengthy prison sentence, with sentencing scheduled for 23 June. The embezzlement came to light after a deal was brokered with prosecutors, avoiding a trial.
Nicola Sturgeon, the former SNP leader and first minister, issued a statement denying any knowledge of the thefts, saying she was 'utterly appalled' and had been 'misled'. Current SNP leader John Swinney also expressed feelings of betrayal, fighting back tears during a press conference. He acknowledged the difficulty for ordinary party members who had donated money that was stolen.
Political opponents, including Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay and Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie, questioned the credibility of Sturgeon and Swinney's denials. Baillie called for compensation to be provided to those who donated to the SNP.
Murrell, who served as SNP chief executive for 22 years, was a key figure in the party's electoral successes, including the 2007 Holyrood victory and the 2011 landslide that led to the Scottish independence referendum. The indictment listed 119 pages of items purchased with embezzled funds, highlighting the extent of the fraud.
