Peter Murrell Faces Embezzlement Charges Over £459,000 SNP Funds
Court documents have revealed that Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP), is accused of embezzling £459,046.49 from the party over a period spanning more than 12 years. The allegations, which emerged ahead of a preliminary hearing scheduled for next Friday at the High Court in Glasgow, detail a series of illicit purchases funded by SNP money.
Luxury Purchases and False Documents
According to the court papers, first published in the Scottish Sun, Murrell is alleged to have used party funds to buy a Niesmann and Bischoff Smove 7.4e motorhome for £124,550 from a dealer in Stafford for personal use. He is accused of creating false sales documents to disguise this purchase as a legitimate party expense. Additionally, Murrell is charged with using £57,500 of SNP money toward the purchase of an £81,000 Jaguar I-Pace car in 2019.
Further accusations include making false invoices for payments of £12,042 to Apple Retail and £2,478 to the German retailer Manufactum, both purportedly for business-related items. The documents also state that Murrell used SNP funds to pay a parking ticket, highlighting the breadth of the alleged misconduct.
Background and Legal Proceedings
Murrell, who served as the SNP's chief executive for 22 years and is the ex-husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, was arrested in 2023 as part of Operation Branchform, a Police Scotland investigation into SNP finances. He was charged with embezzlement in April 2024 and made no plea during an initial appearance at Edinburgh Sheriff Court last year, after which he was granted bail.
Nicola Sturgeon was also arrested and questioned in June 2023 as part of the same investigation but was later exonerated. In her memoir Frankly, published in August 2023, Sturgeon described the police raid on her Glasgow home as a scene of "utter disbelief," expressing feelings of devastation and confusion.
Implications for Scottish Politics
This case adds to the ongoing scrutiny of SNP finances and could have significant repercussions for the party's reputation. The preliminary hearing in Glasgow will be a critical step in determining the legal outcome for Murrell, with potential consequences for political dynamics in Scotland.
