Peter Murrell, once chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP), pleaded guilty on May 25, 2026, to embezzling £400,310.65 from the party over more than a decade [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]. The offences took place between August 2010 and January 2023, based on court records [2, 4, 5].

Murrell diverted money intended for the SNP to finance a luxury lifestyle. His purchases included a Jaguar, a VW Golf, and a £124,000 high-end motorhome. He also bought designer watches, cosmetics, gardening tools, electronics, and personal goods such as an expensive salt and pepper shaker costing over £2,000 [1, 2, 6, 5].

Police said Murrell concealed the fraud by submitting false invoices, manipulating accounts, and using party credit cards issued to staff [5]. He was arrested in April 2023 as part of "Operation Branchform," a probe into SNP finances that uncovered an estimated £600,000 of misappropriated donations [6, 4, 5].

Peter Murrell was remanded in custody following his guilty plea. A sentencing hearing is set for June 23, 2026, and further details of his crimes will be disclosed at a court appearance on June 2 [1, 2, 4, 5]. The original indictment charged him with around £460,000 in theft, but about £60,000 of those charges were dropped in the plea deal [1, 2].

Police Scotland’s Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston said Murrell "showed utter contempt for the high public trust placed in him" and "abused his privileged position" to bankroll a lifestyle he otherwise could not afford [2].

Political leaders responded strongly to the case. John Swinney, current SNP leader and First Minister, said he felt "horrified" and "betrayed" by Murrell’s actions. He added that Murrell had stolen "the hopes, the dreams and the aspirations of thousands of people all over Scotland" [3, 4]. Former First Minister Humza Yousaf said he was shocked at the scale and nature of the luxury purchases and called for a "hefty sentence" [6].

Opposition politicians criticized the SNP as having "embezzled voters" and claimed the party had put its own interests above those of Scots [7]. Nicola Sturgeon, Murrell's ex-wife and former SNP leader, was arrested and questioned in 2024 but cleared of wrongdoing [2, 3, 4].

Murrell and Sturgeon announced their separation in January 2025 [4]. The next court appearance on June 2 will reveal further specifics of Murrell’s crimes before his sentencing later that month [1, 2, 4, 5].