The ex-husband of Scotland's former leader has admitted to embezzling £400,000 in party funds
Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP), has officially admitted in court to embezzling £400,310.65 from the party’s budget.
This was reported by Sky News.
The high-profile confession was made during a hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday, May 25.
The investigation established that financial fraud within the political party had been ongoing for over twelve years.
Between August 2010 and October 2022, the official regularly used these funds to purchase, among other things, luxury items and a car trailer, as well as two cars.
According to law enforcement officials, 61-year-old Murrell embezzled SNP funds to “finance the lavish lifestyle he aspired to but could not afford.”
Former First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, who is the defendant’s ex-wife, reacted strongly to the corruption scandal.
On her Instagram page, she posted an emotional statement regarding her ex-husband’s actions.
“My reaction to the guilty plea my ex-husband entered today is hard to put into words. I am furious, hurt, saddened, and deeply upset by the impact his actions have had on our family, friends, and the SNP,” Sturgeon wrote.
She also added that the revelation of this scheme was a heavy personal blow and a true betrayal for her.
“The fact that I was deceived and let down by a man I loved and trusted has caused me acute pain. Why he acted the way he did remains and will always remain a mystery to me,” emphasized the former head of the Scottish government.
Peter Murrell, who led the SNP’s administration for over 20 years, resigned in March 2023 amid a scandal involving the manipulation of party membership figures.
As early as April 2023, he was arrested for the first time as part of Operation Branchform—a large-scale investigation by the Scottish police into party finances.
A year after his arrest, he was formally charged with embezzlement, and in January 2025, Nicola Sturgeon announced her divorce from him.
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