Scotland: Ex-husband of former first minister pleads guilty to embezzlement

Monday 25 May 2026 - 17:30

Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of Scotland’s Scottish National Party (SNP) and ex-husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has pleaded guilty to embezzling party funds in a high-profile political scandal.

Appearing before the High Court in Edinburgh, the 61-year-old admitted to misappropriating more than £400,000 in party money over a period spanning more than a decade. The funds were reportedly used for personal expenses, including luxury goods and the purchase of two vehicles.

Murrell had served as SNP chief executive for around 20 years before stepping down in 2023 amid a police investigation into the party’s finances. He was arrested shortly after his resignation and formally charged in 2024.

The investigation gained public attention following Nicola Sturgeon’s unexpected resignation as First Minister in early 2023. She was briefly arrested and questioned as part of the inquiry but was later released without any charges, maintaining her innocence throughout the process.

Prosecutors told the court that Murrell’s actions represented a serious breach of trust, involving misuse of party funds between 2010 and 2022. The judge described the case as a significant abuse of confidence within a major political organization.

Murrell is scheduled to be sentenced on June 23. The case has intensified scrutiny of financial governance within political parties in Scotland and raised broader questions about accountability in public life.