Ex-SNP chief exec goes to prison for taking party's money
- Published
An important figure in Scotland's biggest political party has been sent to jail for more than five years for taking money from the party.
Peter Murrell was the chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP) for 22 years but stepped down in March 2023 and was arrested by police a month later.
He has now been sentenced to five years and three months in prison.
It comes after he admitted embezzling more than £400,000 in party funds.
Embezzling is where someone secretly takes money that is in their care or that belongs to the organisation or business they work for.
He used the funds to buy goods, including cars and game consoles, between 2010 and 2022.
The Scottish National Party, also known as the SNP, is the largest political party in Scotland.
Peter Murrell was paid to be in charge of how the party was run, and was also married to Nicola Sturgeon, who was the first minister of Scotland at the time and leader of the SNP.
The couple ended their marriage in January 2025.
Nicola Sturgeon has always said that she "had no knowledge or suspicion whatsoever that he was using SNP funds for personal purposes".
Peter Murrell and ex-wife Nicola Sturgeon can be seen together in this photo from 2016
Murrell's lawyer said that the former SNP chief exec acknowledged the effects of his actions and accepts full responsibility.
He added that he recognises the "measurable psychological, emotional, and financial harm" done to the party and is "overwhelmed by feelings of embarrassment and shame".
The judge said Murrell's actions were a "significant breach of trust".
Murrell's lawyer has said there are sufficient funds for Murrell to repay the stolen money.
How have the SNP and other politicians reacted to the news?
Scottish First Minister John Swinney has said he still doesn't understand why Murrell took the money
Nicola Sturgeon's lawyer said that she remains "angry, hurt and distressed" about the devastating impact of Murrell's actions on her, his family, friends and the SNP.
The SNP leader and first minister, John Swinney, has said that he will not visit Peter Murrell in prison and said he still does not understand why Mr Murrell stole £400,000 from the party.
Former SNP MP Joanna Cherry described the list of items bought by Murrell as "absolutely disgraceful", and said she was "gobsmacked" by the amount of money spent".
Scottish Labour's Jackie Baillie says there are still questions to be answered
Meanwhile, Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said there are still "serious questions which remain about this appalling scandal".
"Such as why Murrell was able to get away with stealing vast sums of money for over a decade and why no-one within the SNP had any curiosity about the state of the party's finances," she added.