Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has been sentenced to more than five years in prison for embezzling over £400,000 from the party over a 12-year period.
Murrell pleaded guilty to the charges, which involved the misappropriation of party funds. The court documents detailed the extent of the embezzlement, spanning more than a decade. The sentencing comes after a police investigation that led to Murrell's arrest in June 2023. Sturgeon herself was also arrested in connection with the investigation but was later informed she was no longer under investigation.
In a statement released through his lawyer, Aamer Anwar, Murrell expressed that he "remains angry, hurt and distressed" by his own crimes. The lawyer stated that Sturgeon felt "utterly deceived and let down by her husband whom she had trusted," adding that his actions were "beyond her comprehension."
Sturgeon, who stepped down as First Minister in March 2023 and announced the end of her marriage to Murrell last year, has stated she was unaware of many of the high-value items purchased and had no reason to believe Murrell was not using his own money for personal expenditures. As she was not a serving office bearer in the SNP from 2004 to 2024, she asserted she had no operational right to review party finances.
First Minister John Swinney, who reappointed Murrell in 2001 during his own tenure as SNP leader, has apologized to party members. Swinney denied any attempts to suppress concerns about the party's finances and stated his focus is on ensuring the SNP operates with clear and effective governance.
The embezzlement case has cast a shadow over the SNP, prompting internal reflection on party governance and financial oversight.