𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has pleaded guilty to embezzling £400,310.65 from the political party. Murrell admitted the charge when he appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday morning, May 25.

The 62-year-old, who is Nicola Sturgeon’s estranged husband, was charged with embezzling the funds from the party between August 2010 and October 2022. He admitted an amended indictment which reduced the amount of the embezzled money down from more than £459,000.

On Monday, the ex-SNP chief executive arrived at the High Court wearing a black suit with a black tie.

He has been remanded into custody at the High Court in Edinburgh after he entered his plea.

Murrell, 61, was first arrested in April 2023 as part of a police investigation into the SNP’s finances, and was charged in April 2024.

He appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in March 2025, where he faced a charge of embezzlement, making no plea.

Until he stood down in 2023 during the leadership race to succeed Ms Sturgeon, Murrell had been chief executive of the SNP for more than 20 years.

In January last year, Ms Sturgeon announced she and Murrell had “decided to end” their marriage.

Murrell’s conviction is the result of a police investigation called Operation Branchform, which was first launched in 2021.

The operation investigated the SNP’s funding and finances.

Sentencing is due to take place on June 23.