Nicola Sturgeon's estranged husband admits embezzling 400k from SNP

Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party, pleaded guilty in the High Court in Edinburgh to embezzling 400,310.65 between August 2010 and October 2022. An amended indictment reduced the embezzled amount from more than 459,000. Murrell admitted using SNP money to buy items including a motorhome, luxury goods, and toward the purchase of two cars. He was remanded in custody after the plea. Murrell had served as chief executive for more than 20 years and stood down in 2023 during the leadership race to succeed Nicola Sturgeon. Scottish Labour Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie said the plea does not end the matter and called for further explanation from the current SNP leader John Swinney, including why the hearing was delayed and why the public learned the truth later.

"Peter Murrell pleaded guilty to the charges when he appeared in the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday morning. The 61-year-old admitted an amended indictment which reduced the amount of the embezzled money down from more than 459,000. He admitted using the SNP's money to buy items including a motorhome and luxury goods, and towards the purchase of two cars. He was remanded in custody after the plea."

"He was charged with embezzling the 400,310.65 between August 2010 and October 2022 during part of his 22-year tenure as chief executive of the party. Until he stood down in 2023 during the leadership race to succeed Ms Sturgeon, Murrell had been chief executive of the SNP for more than 20 years. The case involves funds taken over a long period while he held the senior role."

"Jackie Baillie insisted the plea does not put the issue to bed as she called on current SNP leader John Swinney to further address the case. It is inconceivable that Nicola Sturgeon knew nothing about the large-scale fraud, which she benefited from, taking place under her nose in both her party and her home, she said. She added that the party machine attempted to close ranks and shut down scrutiny when questions about the finances started to emerge."

"There should be a review into why the hearing was delayed until after the election and why the public were denied the truth until the timing was more convenient for the SNP. The rotten culture of sleaze, scandal and secrecy in the SNP needs to end it's ti. Baillie said Swinney needs to come clean and explain what he knew and what the party knew."

Read at www.independent.co.uk