Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell admits embezzling party funds

Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP), has pleaded guilty to embezzling over £400,000 from the party, a revelation made during a hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh.

The 61-year-old, who is the estranged spouse of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has been taken into custody following his admission of guilt.

Between August 12, 2010, and October 19, 2022, Murrell misappropriated party funds to procure luxury items, including jewellery, cosmetics, two vehicles, and a motorhome.

The amount he acknowledged embezzling totals £400,310.65. After serving as the SNP’s chief executive for over two decades, he now awaits sentencing, scheduled for June 23.

Murrell was escorted from the courtroom, handcuffed, amidst a silent assembly of attendees.

Judge Lord Young characterized his actions as a "gross breach of trust," illuminating the severity of the situation.

Initially, when the charges were made public earlier this year, Murrell faced accusations of absconding £459,046.49 from August 12, 2010, until January 13, 2023. However, during the recent High Court proceedings, this sum was adjusted to £400,310.65, alongside a reduction in the duration of the offenses.

In response to the scandal, SNP leader and First Minister John Swinney expressed profound regret to party members, labeling Murrell’s actions as an "overwhelming betrayal."

The court disclosed a substantial dossier of 125 pages detailing Murrell's expenditures, with the most substantial single transaction amounting to £124,550 for a luxury motorhome in 2020, which was fully funded by party resources. He allegedly fabricated documents to present this expenditure as a legitimate party cost.

Among his first notable acquisitions was a £33,000 Volkswagen Golf in early 2016, which utilized £16,489 from SNP funds. Additionally, he spent £57,500 on a Jaguar I-PACE in 2019, later selling it for £47,378.76 two years afterward.

Murrell extended his misuse of party funds to buy two Bremont watches costing £9,350, a Starwalker World Time fountain pen valued at £4,225, and a Hamilton and Inches silver wine coaster worth £3,500.

His admissions encompassed the purchase of numerous items for personal indulgence using party finances, ranging from high-end products to everyday necessities. Notable examples include:

• Jura Giga 5 Cromo coffee machine - £3,232
• Smythson dressing table and tea set - £3,192 (after discounts)
• Husqvarna robotic lawn mower - £3,070 (including installation)
• Feuilles salt and pepper grinders - £2,618
• Shetland Jewellery nine-carat gold pendant - £425
• Three Nintendo 3DS handheld consoles - £350
• PlayStation 3 console - £247
• Various games including FIFA, Battlefield, The Sims, Grand Theft Auto, and Pac-Man
• Caran d'Ache pencil sharpener - £110
• Chopsticks set - £102
• Timberland men’s loafers - £100
• Men’s "slouch pouch" onesie - £76
• Ideal Standard toilet seats - £67
• Goldfish Chinese takeaway curry sauce paste - £12
• Staples - £4
• Neutrogena hand cream - £2.50

Murrell held the position of chief executive for 22 years, overseeing significant electoral achievements for the party.

His resignation occurred in March 2023 after he assumed responsibility for misleading the media regarding SNP membership statistics.

He was arrested a month later following an extensive police operation at the Edinburgh headquarters of the SNP and the residence he shared with Sturgeon.

This police investigation, identified as Operation Branchform, was initiated in 2021 to review the whereabouts of £660,000 in SNP donations.

In April 2024, Murrell was charged with embezzlement and had his first court appearance in March 2025.

Sturgeon and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie were also taken into custody as part of Operation Branchform. Both have denied any wrongdoing, and it was confirmed last year that they are no longer under investigation.

Sturgeon publicly announced her decision to separate from Murrell in January of last year.

After Murrell's court proceedings, Sturgeon described feelings of "anger, hurt, sadness, and profound distress" regarding the repercussions of his actions on their family, friends, and the SNP.

In a statement, she expressed: "I had no knowledge or suspicion whatsoever that he was using SNP funds for personal purposes. I am utterly appalled that he did so and cannot begin to understand why."

Discussing the political repercussions of the case, she remarked that it represents a "profound personal trauma," and she would refrain from further comments.

Sturgeon’s further statement

Subsequent to the court hearing, Sturgeon shared an additional statement through her solicitor, Aamer Anwar.

In this statement, she addressed queries raised in the media regarding her awareness of Murrell's actions, asserting that for many of the high-value items, including expensive watches and gaming consoles, she was unaware they had been purchased.

Specifically noting the motorhome, she stated, "I was not aware of its existence until it featured in the police investigation in early 2023, nor was it parked in our driveway as has been claimed by some."

Regarding items she had known about, Sturgeon remarked that she had no reason to suspect they were purchased with party funds as both she and Murrell earned substantial salaries and often led separate lives due to her professional responsibilities, maintaining separate bank accounts without access to his financial records.

Swinney, who was the SNP leader when Murrell ascended to the role of chief executive in 2001, conveyed the anguish felt by party members. The First Minister, who served nearly a decade as Sturgeon’s deputy, emphasized that he had never suspected any misconduct by Murrell.

"By embezzling from the SNP, Peter Murrell was stealing the hopes, dreams, and aspirations of thousands of people all over Scotland," he stated during a news conference.

He further insisted that the circumstances surrounding this betrayal should not have occurred and denied that the SNP's management systems had failed, asserting that they had been circumvented and confirmed that the party is now governed under sound financial practices.