Overview of the case
Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party, admitted to using fake invoices and party funds to cover personal spending worth more than £400,000. The 61 year old is the estranged husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon.
Court proceedings revealed that the misuse took place over a period of around 12 years. Murrell has now pleaded guilty and is waiting for sentencing, which is scheduled for 23 June. He is currently held at HMP Edinburgh on remand.
How the money was taken
The court heard that Murrell used multiple methods to access SNP funds. These included party charge cards, bank transfers, and reimbursement claims supported by false invoices.
He also used the charge cards of two other staff members. Most of the spending came from party accounts funded by membership fees, donations, and legacy gifts left to the party.
Although Murrell had access to the accounting system, much of the routine processing was handled by a staff member who acted under his direction.
What the money was spent on
Investigators linked the funds to a wide range of personal purchases. These included jewellery, cosmetics, cars, and a motorhome.
Police later recovered several items during searches. These included a custom wooden library, a robotic lawnmower, a bathroom vanity unit, a silver wine coaster, and fitted mats.
A £124,550 motorhome was also seized from his mother’s property in Dunfermline.
Investigation and arrests
Murrell was first arrested in April 2023, shortly after stepping down as SNP chief executive following a dispute over membership figures.
Police searched both the family home shared with Nicola Sturgeon in Glasgow and SNP headquarters in Edinburgh. Many of the items listed in the investigation were not recovered during these searches.
Court update
Murrell appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh in handcuffs for a procedural hearing. The court confirmed the agreed timeline of events leading to the charges and guilty plea.
He now faces sentencing later this month.
