Nicola Sturgeon has said she feels as if she is serving a sentence for a crime she did not commit, in her first interview since her estranged husband Peter Murrell pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the Scottish National Party.
The former first minister of Scotland, speaking to the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg, struggled to hold back tears as she denied ever “consciously” seeing the luxury motor home bought with party funds. The camper was parked “round the side” of her mother-in-law’s house and had been recorded in the party’s accounts as “motor vehicles”, she said. Sturgeon insisted she was “not going to apologise for somebody else’s crimes” and criticised those making claims about her that were “not true”.
“Nicola Sturgeon says she feels she is serving a sentence for a crime she did not commit, after her estranged husband Peter Murrell pleaded guilty to embezzling over £400,000 from the SNP. She denies seeing the motor home bought with embezzled funds and refuses to apologise. Ministers back calls for an inquiry.”
The interview came after Murrell, the SNP’s former chief executive, admitted embezzling over £400,000 from the party. Sturgeon has faced intense scrutiny over what she knew about the misuse of funds, but she has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing. In the BBC interview, she defended her record and said she was “not responsible” for Murrell’s theft.
The fallout has sparked calls for a wider inquiry into the SNP's finances. Shadow home secretary Chris Philp said there “should definitely be an inquiry because trust in politics has been fundamentally undermined”. The Scottish opposition leaders have also criticised Sturgeon’s interview, with some accusing her of failing to take responsibility.
Sturgeon also addressed the issue during an appearance at the Hay Festival in Wales, where she hit out at critics who she said were saying things about her that were “not true”. The former first minister remains a prominent figure in Scottish politics, but the embezzlement scandal has damaged the SNP's reputation.
What happens next: The UK government has yet to announce a formal inquiry, but ministers have voiced support for one. The SNP is expected to face continued pressure to ensure transparency over party finances. Sturgeon has not indicated any intention to step back from public life, but the scandal continues to cast a shadow over her legacy.
What This Means For You – The scandal has raised questions about financial oversight within political parties across the UK. For voters, it underscores the importance of accountability and transparency in party funding. The call for an inquiry signals that such issues are being taken seriously by Westminster, which could lead to tighter regulations on political donations and spending.