Ex-Scottish chief’s former husband admits embezzling occasion funds for lavish life-style

The estranged husband of former Scottish chief Nicola Sturgeon pleaded responsible Monday to embezzling greater than 400,000 kilos ($746,000 Cdn) from the Scottish National Party to fund a lavish life-style when he was its chief government.

Peter Murrell, 61, who was remanded into custody within the High Court in Edinburgh after his plea, admitted he used the cash to purchase a motorhome, two automobiles and luxurious items.

“By embezzling from the SNP, Peter Murrell was stealing the hopes, the dreams and the aspirations of thousands of people all over Scotland, people who gave what they could over many years in the hope that it would help contribute to a better country,” SNP Leader John Swinney mentioned at a information convention.

“I am horrified, I am betrayed.”

Murrell’s plea caps a five-year police investigation and a tumultuous interval for Scotland’s dominant occasion and the previous energy couple as soon as at its helm.

Following huge features for the SNP within the Scottish Parliament in 2021, indicators of inside turmoil exploded lower than two years later as questions swirled in regards to the SNP’s funds and dwindling membership numbers.

Sturgeon, who dominated Scottish politics for nearly a decade, abruptly resigned as first minister of Scotland’s semi-autonomous authorities in February 2023 after serving greater than eight years within the function. Observers had been bewildered by her announcement that she knew in her “head and in my heart” that it was the fitting time to go.

A month later, Murrell stop his job after 20 years as occasion government. He took accountability for deceptive the information media in regards to the collapsing membership of the occasion.

Three weeks later, police confirmed up on the couple’s Glasgow residence and arrested Murrell.

Officers spent two days looking out the home. They additionally searched SNP headquarters in Edinburgh and confiscated a luxurious motorhome parked within the driveway at Murrell’s mom’s residence north of the capital.

Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston mentioned the investigation, which price two million kilos ($3.7 million Cdn) in public funds, was prolonged and complicated as a result of Murrell coated his tracks over a 12-year interval by cooking the books.

“Peter Murrell has shown utter contempt for the high public trust placed in him,” Houston mentioned. “He abused his privileged position with access to Scottish National Party funds to divert cash into his own accounts and bankroll the lavish lifestyle he craved but could not afford.”

Sentencing was scheduled for June 23.

A cloud over Sturgeon’s legacy

Police Scotland’s investigation into how the SNP spent greater than 600,000 kilos ($1.12 million Cdn) designated for a Scottish independence marketing campaign forged a cloud over the occasion, Sturgeon and her legacy.

Sturgeon and former occasion treasurer Colin Beattie had been additionally arrested and questioned. At the time, Sturgeon mentioned: “I know beyond doubt that I am in fact innocent of any wrongdoing.”

Police introduced in March 2025 that Sturgeon and Beattie had been cleared.

Sturgeon led her occasion to dominance in Scottish politics and refashioned the SNP from a largely one-issue occasion right into a dominant governing power with liberal social positions. She guided her occasion throughout three U.Okay.-wide elections and two Scottish elections, and led Scotland by way of the coronavirus pandemic, profitable reward for her clear, measured communication model.

But Sturgeon left workplace amid divisions within the SNP with out assembly her most important aim — independence from the United Kingdom for the nation of 5.5 million individuals.

Sturgeon introduced final 12 months that she and Murrell had been divorcing after about 15 years of marriage.

‘Utterly appalled’

Sturgeon mentioned Monday that she by no means had information of or suspected Murrell was siphoning funds from the occasion. She mentioned she was “utterly appalled,” and “angry, hurt, sad and very distressed about the impact of his actions on family, friends and the SNP.”

“To be deceived and let down by a husband I loved and trusted has caused me acute pain,” Sturgeon mentioned on Instagram.

“Why he acted as he did is, and always will be, beyond my comprehension.”

Scottish Labour deputy chief Jackie Baillie mentioned it was “inconceivable” Sturgeon knew nothing about what her husband was doing as she referred to as on Swinney, the primary minister, to elucidate what the occasion knew in regards to the crime.

“It was Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP party machine that attempted to close ranks and shut down scrutiny when questions about the finances started to emerge, and we need to know why,” Baillie mentioned.