Former SNP chief executive, Peter Murrell, has been detained at the High Court in Edinburgh after admitting to embezzling £400,310.65 from the political party. Murrell, who is the estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon, confessed to the charges during a court appearance on Monday. The 61-year-old was accused of misappropriating the funds from the party between August 2010 and October 2022.
Appearing at the High Court dressed in a black suit and tie, Murrell is set to be sentenced on June 23. He has acknowledged using the SNP’s money for personal purchases, including a motorhome, luxury items, and two cars. Murrell’s legal troubles began in April 2023 when he was first arrested as part of a police inquiry into the party’s finances, leading to formal charges in April 2024.
During a court appearance in March 2025, Murrell faced accusations of embezzlement related to using party funds to buy a motorhome for personal use. Having served as the SNP’s chief executive for over two decades until stepping down in 2023 during a leadership transition, Murrell and Sturgeon were a prominent political couple in the UK.
The investigation that culminated in Murrell’s conviction, known as Operation Branchform, was initiated in 2021 to probe the SNP’s financial affairs. The operation involved significant police resources, with costs exceeding £2 million. Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston described the case as intricate due to the extent of Murrell’s actions over a 12-year period and his attempts to conceal the embezzlement.
Houston emphasized Murrell’s breach of public trust by diverting party funds for personal gain, leading to a lavish lifestyle funded by the SNP’s resources. The former chief executive’s spending on luxury items and efforts to hide the embezzlement through falsified records were highlighted. Murrell was urged to face the repercussions of his misconduct.