Former SNP Chief Peter Murrell Pleads Guilty to Embezzling £400,000

LONDON: Former Scottish National Party (SNP) chief executive Peter Murrell on Monday pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 ($540,000) from the party, admitting that he diverted party funds to finance personal purchases including vehicles, a motorhome, and luxury goods.

Murrell, who served as the SNP’s chief executive for over two decades, acknowledged in court that he embezzled £400,310.65 from party funds between 2010 and 2023. Court documents revealed that the money was used to purchase several vehicles as well as luxury items from brands including Harrods and Estee Lauder.

Murrell is the former husband of former SNP leader and ex-Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, who resigned unexpectedly in 2023 shortly before being arrested as part of the investigation into the party’s finances. Authorities later cleared Sturgeon of any wrongdoing in March last year.

Following Murrell’s guilty plea, Sturgeon reiterated that she had no knowledge of the misuse of party funds.

“I am utterly appalled that he did so and cannot begin to understand why,” she said, adding that she had been “misled just as others were.”

The case has intensified scrutiny on the pro-independence SNP, which has dominated Scottish politics for nearly two decades. The police investigation, combined with the arrest of the party’s longest-serving leader and the conviction of her former husband, has raised serious questions about the party’s internal financial oversight.

John Swinney, the current SNP leader, described Murrell’s actions as “a terrible breach of trust and an overwhelming betrayal.”

However, opposition parties and some former SNP members questioned how senior party figures remained unaware of the financial misconduct over such a long period.

The Scottish Labour Party accused the SNP leadership of attempting to suppress scrutiny over party finances and called for further explanations regarding what party officials knew about the scandal.

Meanwhile, Police Scotland Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said Murrell had shown “utter contempt for the high public trust placed in him” by diverting party funds to support “the lavish lifestyle he craved but could not afford.”

Murrell was remanded in custody following the hearing and is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23.