𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

Harry Potter author J.K. Rowling has taken aim at former first minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon, in the wake of Ms Sturgeon’s estranged husband’s embezzlement scandal. The internationally renowned author ridiculed claims that Ms Sturgeon was unaware of her then-husband’s theft of SNP funds despite him filling their home with luxury goods.

He even purchased a £124,500 motorhome and £81,277 Jaguar, both of which Ms Sturgeon claimed she “had no knowledge or suspicion whatsoever” had been purchased with party funds. Ms Rowling, 60, joked online that “every other day a new motorhome appears in my mother-in-law’s drive”, adding that her partner “hands me another bucket full of jewellery and cosmetics I can only assume he’s got himself a part time job I’m too busy to ask about,” the megastar jested.

The former first minister’s claim was further questioned by the Prime Minister, Sir Keir Starmer, who said there are “questions that need to be answered” about the revelations.

Speaking to the media, Sir Keir that “anybody looking at what’s happening up in Scotland will be baffled that those at the top of the SNP say they didn’t know anything about what was going on”.

The criticism comes as more details continue to emerge from the case.

They include that Mr Murrell reportedly told a jewellery shop owner that he was “the man with the money” when he visited in 2019.

It is understood he splashed out on a gold pendant inspired by the Northern Lights on that visit.

The £425 necklace is one of the items he admitted buying with funds he embezzled from the SNP between August 2010 and October 2022.

Ms Sturgeon is believed to have gone on to wear the exotic necklace in some of her public appearances.

Senior figures in the Scottish independence movement are now demanding an independent investigation into the misappropriation of funds.

Joanna Cherry KC, a former SNP member, said she wants an “independent investigation into what occurred”, insisting there was a “wider public interest here that goes beyond the SNP”.

She added that “Nicola Sturgeon is very keen to paint herself as the victim here and to underline she is not guilty of any criminality.

“But what she is guilty of is a remarkable lack of curiosity and deliberate frustration of the attempts of those of us who were curious.”

Mr Murrell pleaded guilty on Monday to embezzling a total of £400,310.65 from the SNP between August 2010 and October 2022. He was remanded in custody.

In a statement released through her lawyer, Aamer Anwar, Ms Sturgeon said she and Murrell had separate bank accounts and she had no access to his financial records.

She said: “Today the media is reporting details of items that my former husband has now admitted buying with SNP funds.

“I have seen questions raised about how I could not have known about this.

“I want to reiterate that I had no knowledge or suspicion whatsoever that personal items had been purchased using SNP funds.

“I was cleared of any wrongdoing after a lengthy and thorough investigation.”

She continued: “In relation to many of the items in question, for example expensive watches and games consoles, I was not aware of them having been purchased at all.

“Indeed, in relation to the item of largest value – a campervan – I was not aware of its existence until it featured in the police investigation in early 2023, nor was it parked in our driveway as has been claimed by some.

“In respect of any items I was aware of Peter having purchased, I had no reason to doubt that he had used his own money.

“We were both earning high salaries and, due to the responsibilities of my job, rarely socialised or went on holidays.

“We had separate bank accounts and I had no access to his financial records.”