Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has admitted embezzling £400,310.65 from the party, with court details revealing he spent the money on video games, a motorhome and a £3,200 coffee machine.
Murrell, who was married to former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, used party funds for personal expenses over several years. The court heard he employed "persistence, cynicism and devious tactics" to conceal the theft, according to the BBC. The case emerged from Operation Branchform, the long-running police investigation into SNP finances.
“Court reveals how former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell embezzled more than £400,000 from the party, spending funds on a motorhome, video games and a £3,200 coffee machine.”
Murrell resigned as chief executive in April 2023 and was arrested two months later. He was charged in April 2024 and has now pleaded guilty to embezzlement. The scandal has severely damaged the SNP, which dominated Scottish politics for over a decade, and contributed to Sturgeon's resignation as first minister in 2023.
In court, prosecutors detailed how Murrell spent members' donations on luxury items. The purchases included a motorhome, a high-end coffee machine, and video games. The BBC described his methods as "persistent, cynical and devious", but Murrell has not explained why he took the money.
The case has raised serious questions about oversight within the SNP. The party, already weakened by internal divisions, now faces a crisis of trust over its financial management. The embezzled sum came from membership subscriptions, leaving many party members feeling betrayed.
Murrell is due to be sentenced at a later date. The court proceedings are part of the wider Operation Branchform investigation, which continues.
What This Means For You For SNP members and Scottish voters, this case highlights the need for stronger financial controls in political parties. The loss of over £400,000 from a party reliant on grassroots donations has damaged confidence in how funds are monitored. It also underscores the personal consequences when leaders betray the trust of their supporters.