Nicola Sturgeon’s statement as she comes under pressure over estranged husband’s embezzlement

Nicola Sturgeon said she was “angry, hurt, upset and deeply distressed” after her ex-husband admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the Scottish National Party (SNP).

Peter Murrell, the party’s former chief executive, pleaded guilty when he appeared at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday morning.

He was accused of embezzling £400,310.65 between August 2010 and October 2022, part of his 22-year tenure as the party’s chief executive.

Murrell pleaded guilty to an amended indictment which reduced the amount of money embezzled by more than £459,000.

He and former Scottish first minister Ms Sturgeon were previously one of the most powerful couples in UK politics for many years.

In January last year, Ms Sturgeon announced that she and Murrell had “decided to end” their marriage.

Ms Sturgeon, who left the MSP before the Holyrood election earlier this month, said in a statement published on social media on Monday that her reaction was “difficult to put into words”.

“I am angry, hurt, saddened and deeply distressed about the impact of his actions on family, friends and the SNP,” he said.

“Being betrayed and disappointed by a husband I loved and trusted caused me intense pain.

“I couldn’t understand why he acted that way, and he always will.”

Ms Sturgeon said she had “no knowledge or suspicion that he was using SNP funds for personal purposes”, adding that she was “completely appalled” by his actions.

He continued: “The fact that I was acquitted after a thorough investigation underlines that these were not my crimes. I was misled, just like everyone else.”

The former SNP leader acknowledged there would be “a political debate in the light of what happened” but said it was “also a deeply personal trauma” for him.

Scottish Labor deputy leader Jackie Baillie called on current SNP leader John Swinney to take up the case further, while insisting the defense “does not make the problem go away”.

“John Swinney needs to explain what he and the party know,” he added.

Mr Swinney, who was formally re-elected as Scotland’s first minister last week, said it was “difficult for me to properly convey” the “level of personal horror” he felt about Mr Murrell’s crimes.

Describing it as a “difficult day” for the party, Mr Swinney told a press conference on Monday: “This made me very sad today.”

His comments came in which he said he “apologies to the people affected” by Murrell’s crimes, said money was “stolen” from the party and accused the former chief executive of “widespread deception”.

The first minister said she was “exclusively responsible” for what happened and stressed that “it was Peter Murrell’s behavior that brought us to this situation.”

Mr Swinney said he “never suspected” Murrell had embezzled the money and had “no idea” why a caravan had been purchased by the alleged party.

But it was clear the SNP was “badly, very, very badly let down” by its former chief executive.

At Monday’s court hearing, Judge Lord Young told Murrell: “You have pleaded guilty to a charge of embezzlement over a 12-year period.

“You embezzled just over £400,000 from the Scottish National Party.

“Your actions as the chief executive officer of that organization during this period constitute a gross breach of trust.”

Murrell, 61, admitted using SNP money to buy items including a caravan and luxury goods, as well as buying two cars.

The former party boss was first arrested in April 2023 and charged in April 2024 as part of a police investigation into the SNP’s finances.

He appeared at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in March 2025, where he faced charges of embezzlement and entered no plea.

The indictment included allegations that Murrell used party funds to buy a caravan worth £124,550 for his own personal use in 2020 and falsified accounting records to cover up his crime.

Sentencing is expected on June 23, and Murrell will remain in custody until then.