Former SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell Faces Embezzlement Charges Over £459,000
Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP), has been accused of embezzling £459,046.49 from the party over a period spanning more than 12 years, according to court documents that have emerged ahead of a scheduled hearing. Murrell, who is the ex-husband of former First Minister and SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon, is due to appear at the High Court in Glasgow next Friday for a preliminary hearing in this high-profile case.
Details of the Alleged Financial Misconduct
The charges, first published in the Scottish Sun, allege that Murrell misappropriated funds between 12 August 2010 and 13 January 2023. The court papers detail that he used SNP money to purchase a range of luxury items, including a Niesmann and Bischoff Smove 7.4e motorhome costing £124,550 from a dealer in Stafford for personal use. Additionally, he is accused of creating false sales documents to disguise this purchase as a legitimate party expense.
Further allegations include using £57,500 of party funds towards the acquisition of an £81,000 Jaguar I-Pace car in 2019. Murrell is also said to have submitted false invoices for payments totalling £12,042 to Apple Retail and £2,478 to the German retailer Manufactum, purportedly for business-related purchases. In a more minor but notable claim, the documents indicate he used SNP funds to pay a parking ticket.
Legal Proceedings and Background
Murrell, who served as the SNP's chief executive for 22 years, made no plea during an initial appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last year, after which he was granted bail. His arrest in 2023 was part of Operation Branchform, a Police Scotland investigation into SNP finances, and he was formally charged with embezzlement in April 2024.
Nicola Sturgeon was also arrested and questioned by detectives in June 2023 as part of the same operation but was later exonerated. In her memoir Frankly, published in August 2023, Sturgeon expressed her "utter disbelief" at the police raid on their Glasgow home, describing the scene as resembling a murder scene and stating she felt devastated and terrified.
The case continues to unfold as Murrell prepares for his court appearance, highlighting ongoing scrutiny into the financial management of the SNP and its key figures.
