Nicola Sturgeon fought back tears as she recounted receiving a gift from her estranged husband, who admitted to embezzling over £400,000 from the SNP.
The former Scottish First Minister expressed her feelings of being unjustly penalized for a crime she did not commit and declared she would not apologize for Peter Murrell’s misconduct. Sturgeon addressed the matter following Murrell’s confession to embezzling the substantial sum, a week after she announced their divorce in January 2025.
Murrell, who served as the SNP’s chief executive from 2001 to 2023, used the embezzled money for an eclectic mix of purchases, ranging from a motorhome, cars, and luxury watches to basic items like hand cream and curry sauce paste. Sturgeon, reiterating her stance, emphasized in an interview with BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that she refuses to bear responsibility for her ex-husband’s criminal actions.
Expressing her dismay, Sturgeon revealed how Murrell gifted her a £400 Shetland necklace bought with misappropriated funds. She emotionally recalled the moment when Murrell surprised her with the pendant after she had admired it during a campaign visit to a jewelry shop in Shetland.
The former SNP leader admitted that the realization of wearing gifts purchased with party funds by her husband caused her profound distress and confusion. She expressed uncertainty about ever fully coming to terms with the situation.
Sturgeon also shared her intense feelings of anger towards her estranged husband, stating that his deception and betrayal had not only hurt her personally but also exposed her to public scrutiny and humiliation.
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