Former SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell has pleaded guilty to embezzling over £400,000 from the Scottish National Party (SNP), while his former wife, former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing by Police Scotland.

 

Sturgeon husband and Sturgeon are a corrupt couple

Former SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell has pleaded guilty to embezzling over £400,000 from the Scottish National Party (SNP), while his former wife, former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has been cleared of criminal wrongdoing by Police Scotland.

While the situation has sparked widespread public criticism and political debate regarding accountability, the legal outcomes for the two individuals are entirely distinct.

 

Peter Murrell's Guilty Plea

In May 2026, Peter Murrell appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh and pleaded guilty to embezzling £400,310.65 from the SNP between August 2010 and October 2022.

• The Investigation: His conviction concluded a multi-year police investigation known as Operation Branchform, which focused on how the party spent hundreds of thousands of pounds designated for a Scottish independence campaign.
• The Spending: Court proceedings revealed that Murrell used the stolen party funds to bankroll a lavish lifestyle, purchasing items such as luxury cars, a £124,550 motorhome, expensive watches, gaming consoles, and designer household goods.
• Current Status: Following his guilty plea, Murrell was remanded into custody, with formal sentencing scheduled for June 23, 2026.

 

Nicola Sturgeon's Legal Standing

Nicola Sturgeon, who served as Scotland's First Minister until her resignation in early 2023, was also arrested and questioned during the investigation. However, she has not been convicted of any crime:

• Cleared by Police: In March 2025, Police Scotland officially cleared Sturgeon and former party treasurer Colin Beattie of wrongdoing, dropping further investigations into them.
• Denial of Knowledge: Following Murrell's guilty plea, Sturgeon released a statement expressing that she was "utterly appalled" and felt "deceived and let down" by her former husband. She maintained that she had separate bank accounts, no access to his finances, and had absolutely no knowledge or suspicion that party funds were being used for personal purchases.

Relationship and Political Fallout

The couple, who previously held a massive concentration of power as the chief executive and leader of the same political party, separated in January 2025.

While Sturgeon has been legally exonerated, political opponents and media commentators continue to debate whether she should have been more aware of the extensive spending occurring within her own home, leaving her political legacy under intense scrutiny.