Nicola Sturgeon urged to ‘come clean’ as husband admits embezzling £400k | Politics | News
The former Scottish first minister has said she “had no knowledge or suspicion whatsoever that personal items had been purchased using SNP funds”. But Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay called on Ms Sturgeon to “come clean about exactly what she knew, and when”
He told The Telegraph: “Nobody in the real world is buying her claims that she didn’t know a thing about the criminal actions of the man she shared a house, life and political party with.”
Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie claimed it was “inconceivable” that Ms Sturgeon could have known nothing.
Ms Sturgeon said she was not aware of many of the items being purchased by Murrell with funds embezzled from the SNP.
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.”
Murrell had been chief executive of the SNP for more than 20 years.
