Murrell Used SNP Funds for Personal Purchases Over 12 Years
For the first time, details have emerged about how Peter Murrell, the estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon, illicitly used Scottish National Party (SNP) funds to buy personal items including jewellery, cosmetics, two cars, and a motorhome over a 12-year period.
The 61-year-old, who was SNP chief executive for over two decades, faces a lengthy prison sentence after pleading guilty last week.
Murrell Controlled SNP Bank Account and Party Charge Card
At the High Court in Edinburgh, it was revealed that Murrell embezzled a total of £400,310.65 from the party's principal bank account, which he controlled.
"The accused made direct transfers of money and used his party charge card and those of two other staff members to make purchases which were not connected to party business; rather they were for his own use or the use of others.
"Those other members of staff were unaware of him using their cards for that purpose."
The funds in the party account originated from fees and donations paid by SNP members and supporters, as well as legacies.
Following the unsuccessful Scottish independence referendum in 2014, grassroots efforts to raise money for another attempt intensified.
In March 2017, Nicola Sturgeon, then Scotland's first minister for nearly three years, announced plans for a second independence referendum. On the same day, the SNP launched its #ScotRef fundraising appeal.
After Boris Johnson became UK prime minister in December 2019, a second fundraising drive increased the indyref2 fighting fund to £667,000.
SNP membership peaked at nearly 126,000 in 2019 but fell to about 104,000 the following year.
Concerns about party finances arose, with pro-independence blogger Stuart Campbell of Wings Over Scotland alleging that "supposedly ring-fenced" money from the two crowdfunding campaigns had "vanished into the maw of the party machine."
Deliveries Sent to Home, Party HQ, and Family Addresses
The court heard that £42,661 worth of illicit purchases were made via Amazon, with most deliveries sent either to Murrell's home in east Glasgow, which he shared with Nicola Sturgeon, or to the SNP's Edinburgh headquarters.
Some items were also delivered to family members' addresses, including Murrell's mother's home in Dunfermline and two addresses in Irvine, Ayrshire, where Sturgeon has relatives.
A further £139,971 was spent on non-Amazon retailers for items unrelated to party business. Nearly all were bought online and delivered primarily to Murrell's home and party headquarters, with some sent to family members' residences.
During the COVID-19 pandemic, when travel restrictions were in place from mid-March 2020, all purchases were delivered exclusively to Murrell's home.
Police Found Fitted Homeware That Could Not Be Removed
Murrell was arrested at 07:35 on 5 April 2023 at the Glasgow home he shared with Sturgeon, prompting a police search.
Officers spent several hours searching the detached property, including the small shed and storage box in the back garden.
The court was informed that some items were recovered from the house, with a smaller number retrieved from the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh.
"Some of the items listed" were recovered from the house with "a smaller number of others being recovered from the SNP headquarters" in Edinburgh.
Advocate Depute Alan Cameron KC, representing the Crown, stated that not all discovered items were removed by police.
"Others were found but left in situ at the accused's home, including a fitted home library which was partly paid for with SNP funds, a wooden library ladder, a bathroom vanity unit, a kitchen unit for the boiler and fitted mats in the hallway."
Cameron added that the majority of purchased items had not been found during police searches.
Misleading Accounting Records for Personal Purchases
Items bought by Murrell for personal use or others were recorded under false descriptions in the party’s accounting software.
The court heard that hundreds of purchases were inaccurately logged, with three examples illustrating the method used.
Motorhome Purchased New with Only Four Miles When Seized
Murrell ordered a new Niesmann and Bischoff Smove 7.4e motorhome costing £124,550 on 14 October 2020.
He made three deposit payments totaling £12,500 using the SNP charge card, with the remaining £112,050 paid in four direct transfers from the SNP account on 7 December 2020.
Murrell collected the motorhome from the Halbeath Industrial Estate on 22 January 2021 and drove it to his mother's home in Dunfermline, where it remained until police seized it on 5 April 2023.
When transported to a police compound, the vehicle had just four miles on the odometer.
To conceal the purchase, Murrell created a false invoice in the motorhome dealer's name. The customer address was listed as the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh rather than Murrell's actual home address, which he had provided to the dealer.
The account name was altered from "Murrell" to "SNP – Murrell," and the vehicle description was changed to a van instead of a motorhome, with many details omitted, including specifications and additional options like security, tracking, navigation systems, and a television.
Murrell was the registered keeper and insured to drive the motorhome solely for social, domestic, and pleasure purposes.
After the purchase, he suggested to SNP staff that the motorhome could be used for campaigning, but it was never utilized for that purpose.
The day after ordering the motorhome, Murrell bought three Amazon guides about "inspirational journeys around Scotland, England and Wales and Ireland in a camper van or motorhome."
Murrell Made No Comment During Police Interviews
Murrell was arrested on 5 April 2023 and taken to Falkirk Police station, where he was interviewed but declined to answer any questions before being released.
On 18 April 2024, he returned to Falkirk Police station, was arrested again, and interviewed, once more making no comment to all questions.
At the conclusion of the second interview, he was charged with embezzlement, to which he made no response, and was released from custody.
