Peter Murrell, the husband of former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has been charged by Police Scotland detectives with embezzlement of funds from the Scottish National Party (SNP). The 59-year-old former chief executive of the party was taken into custody on Thursday morning and charged at 6.35pm after further questioning. He is no longer in police custody, and a report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
The charge relates to an investigation into how more than £600,000 of donations intended for a second independence referendum campaign was used. Mr Murrell was first arrested on 5 April 2023 in connection with the same probe. Ms Sturgeon was arrested two months later, along with former party treasurer Colin Beattie, but both were released without charge pending further investigation.
Mr Murrell resigned his membership of the SNP last night, according to reports. He stepped down as chief executive in March 2023 after 22 years in the role. The Operation Branchform probe, launched in May 2021, focuses on funds raised in 2017 and 2019 as part of a 'referendum appeal'. Concerns were first raised when SNP accounts showed less than £100,000 in the bank in 2019, despite £600,000 being donated, sparking at least 19 criminal complaints.
Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said: 'This is an extremely serious development and it's essential that all SNP staff and politicians, past and present, cooperate fully with Police Scotland.' Police Scotland stated that as the investigation is ongoing, they are unable to comment further.
