Former SNP chief executive, Peter Murrell, has been placed in custody at the High Court in Edinburgh after confessing to embezzling £400,310.65 from the political party. Murrell acknowledged the charges during his appearance at the court on Monday. The 61-year-old, who is the estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon, was accused of misappropriating the funds from the party between August 2010 and October 2022.
Dressed in a black suit with a matching tie, Murrell arrived at the High Court on Monday. His sentencing is scheduled for June 23. Murrell admitted to using the SNP’s funds for personal purchases, including a motorhome, luxury items, and contributing to the acquisition of two cars.
Initially arrested in April 2023 as part of a police inquiry into the SNP’s finances, Murrell was formally charged in April 2024. In March 2025, he appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court facing an embezzlement charge but did not enter a plea. The indictment alleged that in 2020, Murrell utilized party funds to buy a motorhome worth £124,550 for his personal use.
Having served as the SNP’s chief executive for over two decades until stepping down in 2023 during the leadership succession of Ms. Sturgeon, Murrell had been a prominent figure in UK politics alongside his wife. The couple, known for their influential roles, announced the end of their marriage in January of the previous year.
Murrell’s conviction stems from the police investigation known as Operation Branchform, initiated in 2021 to probe the SNP’s financial affairs. The operation, involving several notable arrests, incurred policing costs exceeding £2 million. Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston remarked on the complexity of the case, highlighting Murrell’s extensive efforts to conceal his illicit activities over a 12-year span.
Houston criticized Murrell for betraying public trust by diverting party funds for personal gain, funding a lavish lifestyle beyond his means. The former chief executive’s misuse of SNP resources for luxury spending, coupled with deceptive accounting practices, underscored his disregard for ethical conduct. Murrell now faces the repercussions of his actions.
