Nicola Sturgeon has said she was “deceived, misled and betrayed” by her estranged husband Peter Murrell, after he admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the Scottish National Party.
Speaking publicly for the first time since Murrell’s guilty plea, the former first minister described the past week as “probably the worst week of my life” and said she was “coming to terms with being married to someone she did not know”.
“Nicola Sturgeon says she was 'deceived and betrayed' by her estranged husband Peter Murrell after he admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP. She described the past week as 'the worst of my life' and denied any knowledge of the funds. First Minister John Swinney has rejected calls for a Holyrood inquiry.”
Murrell, who served as the SNP’s chief executive for more than two decades, pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh to embezzling £400,310.65 from the party. He has been remanded in custody pending sentencing.
Sturgeon, who was first minister from 2014 to 2023, told an audience in Ireland that she had no knowledge or suspicion of the items Murrell purchased with the embezzled funds. She acknowledged that people would have questions but insisted she had been deceived.
The scandal has sent shockwaves through Scottish politics. First Minister John Swinney has rejected calls for a Holyrood inquiry into Murrell’s actions, arguing that the judicial process should be allowed to run its course.
“This is a matter for the courts, and it would be inappropriate for parliament to conduct its own investigation while criminal proceedings are ongoing,” Swinney said.
The case has raised questions about oversight within the SNP. Murrell was the party’s most senior official for years and was responsible for financial management. The embezzlement, which took place over a prolonged period, has prompted calls from opposition parties for greater transparency.
Sturgeon, who separated from Murrell in 2023, has faced scrutiny over whether she could have been aware of the missing funds. She has firmly denied any knowledge, saying she was “deceived, betrayed and lied to” by her husband.
“This has been probably the worst week of my life,” she said. “I am coming to terms with being married to someone I did not know at all.”
The case has dominated headlines in Scotland and beyond, with many asking how such a significant sum could have been embezzled without detection. Murrell’s guilty plea has brought an end to a lengthy investigation by Police Scotland.
What happens next
Murrell remains in custody and will be sentenced at a later date. The court is expected to hear further details of the embezzlement before determining the appropriate penalty. Political opponents have called for a full audit of SNP finances, but Swinney has indicated that the government will wait for the conclusion of legal proceedings.
What this means for you
For voters in Scotland, the scandal raises questions about the governance of political parties and the safeguards in place to protect donor and taxpayer funds. The SNP has long dominated Scottish politics, and many supporters will be seeking reassurance that such a breach cannot happen again. For the wider UK audience, the case serves as a reminder of the importance of financial oversight in all organisations, whether political or otherwise.