Peter Murrell to be sentenced for embezzling £400,000 from SNP

The SNP’s former chief executive is to appear in court to be sentenced for embezzling hundreds of thousands of pounds from the party.

Peter Murrell admitted stealing more than £400,000 at the High Court in Edinburgh in May.

The 61-year-old is due to attend court on Tuesday, when his mitigation will be heard. He is expected to face a custodial sentence.

Murrell, the estranged husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, used the money to buy numerous items – including a motorhome and luxury goods – and towards the purchase of two cars.

Judge Lord Young remanded Murrell in custody and told him his actions amounted to a gross breach of trust.

In total, he stole £400,310.65.

In 2020, Murrell used party funds to buy a £124,550 motorhome for his own personal use.

He also used £57,500 of SNP money to buy an £81,000 Jaguar I-PACE in 2019, and £16,489 to buy a £33,000 Volkswagen Golf in early 2016.

Until he stood down in 2023, during the leadership race to replace Sturgeon as First Minister, Murrell had been chief executive of the SNP for more than 20 years.