Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and estranged husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, is expected to receive a substantial jail sentence today at the High Court in Edinburgh. Murrell previously pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party over a 12-year period.
The 61-year-old admitted to embezzling a total of £400,310.65 from the SNP between 2010 and 2022. Court proceedings last month revealed that Murrell had utilised party funds for a diverse array of personal expenditures. These purchases included significant items such as cars and a motorhome, alongside more everyday goods like kitchenware, toiletries, jewellery, cosmetics, stationery, and even games consoles. The methods used to facilitate these illicit purchases involved charge cards, bank transfers, and the creation of fake invoices.
Police Scotland's investigation into the SNP's finances commenced in 2021, following questions raised about the whereabouts of £667,000 that had been specifically earmarked for a potential second independence referendum campaign. While the initial focus of the inquiry was on potential fraud related to these campaign funds, the police operation subsequently uncovered Murrell's extensive embezzlement. As part of their investigation, officers conducted searches at the Glasgow home Murrell shared with Ms Sturgeon, as well as at the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh.
First Minister John Swinney, who originally appointed Murrell to the chief executive role in 2001 during his initial tenure as SNP leader, has publicly apologised to party members for the wrongdoing. Mr Swinney expressed his horror at Murrell's conduct, characterising it as an 'overwhelming betrayal'. He has, however, denied any attempts to suppress concerns regarding party finances and has rejected calls for a public inquiry into the matter, stating that a four-year police investigation would provide sufficient answers.
Ms Sturgeon has consistently maintained that she had no knowledge of her estranged husband's illicit activities, stating that she felt 'deceived, betrayed and lied to' by his actions. Murrell has been held in custody since his guilty plea last month, awaiting today's sentencing.