Peter Murrell, formerly the SNP's chief executive, pleaded guilty to embezzling £400,310.65 — roughly $540,000 — admitting he diverted party funds to buy vehicles, a motorhome and luxury goods. The thefts cover the period from August 12, 2010, to January 13, 2023, and amount to about £60,000 less than the original charge. Murrell, the ex-husband of former SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon (who was later cleared), has been remanded in custody and will be sentenced on June 23.
Former SNP Chief Peter Murrell Pleads Guilty to Embezzling £400,310.65
FILE PHOTO: SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell arrives to give evidence to a Scottish Parliament committee in Edinburgh, Scotland, Britain December 8, 2020. Andy Buchanan/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo
LONDON — Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP), pleaded guilty on Monday to embezzling £400,310.65 from the party — roughly $540,000 — admitting he diverted funds to buy cars, a motorhome and luxury goods.
Murrell, who led the party's administration for many years, is the ex-husband of former SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon. Sturgeon abruptly resigned in 2023 and was later arrested during the inquiry into the party's finances; she was cleared of wrongdoing in March last year.
The police investigation focused on money raised by Scottish independence campaigners in 2017 that was supposed to be ring-fenced but was allegedly used for other purposes. In written terms of his guilty plea, Murrell admitted embezzling £400,310.65 from the SNP between August 12, 2010, and January 13, 2023 — about £60,000 less than the amount he was originally charged with.
"Peter Murrell has shown utter contempt for the high public trust placed in him as the Chief Executive of a political party and his position in the wider political establishment in Scotland for many years," Police Scotland's Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said.
"He abused his privileged position with access to Scottish National Party funds to divert cash into his own accounts and bankroll the lavish lifestyle he craved but could not afford."
The indictment details that Murrell used diverted funds to purchase several vehicles and to buy items from luxury retailers, including Estée Lauder products and goods from Harrods. He was remanded in custody and is due to be sentenced on June 23.
Reporting by Alistair Smout; additional reporting by Sam Tobin. (Currency note: $1 = 0.7412 pounds.)
Help us improve.
