Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and estranged husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison after admitting embezzling more than £400,000 from the party.
Murrell, 61, was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday after previously pleading guilty to misappropriating SNP funds over a period spanning more than a decade. The court heard he used party money to fund a range of personal purchases, including vehicles, luxury goods and household items.
Judge Lord Young described the offences as a serious breach of trust, telling the court that Murrell had abused a position of significant responsibility within one of Scotland’s largest political parties. The judge said the sentence was intended to act as a deterrent to others who might be tempted to misuse funds entrusted to them.
The case stems from the long-running Police Scotland investigation known as Operation Branchform, which examined the SNP’s finances following concerns about money raised for a future Scottish independence referendum. Murrell was arrested during the investigation and later charged with embezzlement before entering a guilty plea earlier this year.
Prosecutors said Murrell stole more than £400,000 from the SNP between 2010 and 2023, using false accounting methods and fabricated invoices to conceal the spending. Among the purchases highlighted during court proceedings were a luxury motorhome, cars, watches and other high-value items.
Murrell’s guilty plea spared the court a lengthy trial and contributed to a reduced sentence. Reports from the hearing indicated that, without the plea, the prison term could have been significantly longer.
Nicola Sturgeon, who led the SNP and served as Scotland’s First Minister for more than eight years, has consistently denied any knowledge of the offences. She was questioned during the police investigation but was later cleared of wrongdoing. Following Murrell’s guilty plea, Sturgeon said she had been deceived by her former husband and had no prior knowledge of the misuse of party funds.
The scandal has been one of the most damaging episodes in the SNP’s recent history, coming after years of political dominance in Scotland. Current First Minister John Swinney has previously described Murrell’s actions as a profound betrayal of the party and said financial controls have since been strengthened.
A further hearing is expected later this year to determine the recovery of assets and the repayment of funds under proceeds of crime legislation.
