United Kingdom

Ex-SNP Chief Pleads Guilty to £400K Embezzlement

Is the SNP moving forward or do questions remain for Nicola Sturgeon?

Published MAY 26

Ex-SNP Chief Pleads Guilty to £400K Embezzlement

Story

Above: Peter Murrell arrives at the High Court in Edinburgh on May 25. Image credit: Jeff J Mitchell/Getty Images

The Facts

Peter Murrell, the former SNP chief executive and estranged husband of ex-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday to embezzling £400,310.65 ($539,627) from the party between August 2010 and October 2022.
STV News
Express
Judge Lord Young described Murrell's conduct over the 12 years as "a gross breach of trust" before remanding the former SNP CEO, who was led away by a court security officer in handcuffs. He is due to be sentenced on June 23.
The Times (UK)
guardian
The figure Murrell confessed to embezzling, however, is a reduction from the original sum of more than £459,000 he was first accused of siphoning from party funds for personal use, which he concealed through false receipts and accounting entries.
BBC News
Daily Mail
According to reports, Murrell's purchases included a £124,550 motorhome, a £57,500 contribution toward an £81,277 Jaguar I-PACE, two Bremont watches totaling £9,350.25 and more than £42,660 spent on Amazon.
Sky News
The Telegraph
Sturgeon, who was cleared of any wrongdoing in March 2025 after Operation Branchform concluded, said she had "no knowledge or suspicion whatsoever" that Murrell was using SNP funds for personal purposes and that the couple held separate bank accounts.
Spectator (UK)
Independent
Belfast Telegraph
Operation Branchform, the Police Scotland inquiry into SNP finances, was launched in 2021 and has cost more than £2 million as of April 30. Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said the investigation involved "extensive enquiries across Europe" over more than four years.
Police Scotland
Police Scotland
ITV

Sources Split

LEFT

CENTER

RIGHT

ESTAB
CRIT

CENTER

PRO
ESTAB

The Spin

Narrative A

The SNP is the victim here, and the party is confronting that betrayal head-on. Murrell stole the hopes and hard work of thousands of dedicated activists who gave what they could to build a better Scotland. Under current leadership, the SNP is now moving forward — cutting the cost of living, expanding childcare and fighting for Scotland's right to choose its own future.

John Swinney on X

Daily Record on Youtube

Narrative B

After Murrell's admission of guilt, how can the people of Scotland be expected to believe that Nicola Sturgeon had no idea what her husband was up to? After all, it was not as if Murrell was surreptitious in his spending, having acquired a £124,550 motorhome and several luxury cars. For the sake of public interest, Sturgeon must face proper scrutiny.

The Telegraph