Nicola Sturgeon's Statement on Embezzlement Scandal
Nicola Sturgeon has expressed to the BBC that she feels as though she is "serving a sentence for a crime I did not commit" following the admission by her estranged husband, Peter Murrell, of embezzling £400,000 from the Scottish National Party (SNP), which she led for several years.
In an exclusive interview with Laura Kuenssberg, the former first minister declined to apologise for the scandal and became emotional while recalling gifts from Murrell that were later revealed to have been purchased with misappropriated party funds.
"I am not responsible for the crimes that my former husband committed and I'm not going to apologise for somebody else's crimes."
Sturgeon has consistently denied any knowledge of the crimes committed by Murrell between 2010 and 2022.
Following a police investigation, the former first minister was not charged. She served as SNP party leader from 2014 until 2023, during which time she shared responsibility for overseeing the party's financial accounts.
Accountability and Responsibility
In the interview, scheduled to be broadcast on Sunday, Sturgeon stated:
"For my own sake, but for the sake of people out there, a lot of women who end up finding themselves blamed for the actions of the men in their lives, I'm not going to contribute to that kind of sense that I am responsible for somebody else's crimes."
"I will take responsibility for the things I do, the decisions I make. I'm sitting here with you right now, answering questions because I believe strongly in that accountability.
But I am not responsible for the crimes that my former husband committed and I'm not going to apologise for somebody else's crimes."
When asked whether she bore any responsibility despite her leadership role, Sturgeon responded:
"No... [Murrell] perpetrated a crime on the SNP. By definition, that included me as the party leader. He misled. He deceived.
He is serving and will be serving a sentence for a crime he committed. I'm out here feeling as if I'm serving a sentence for a crime I did not commit."
This echoed remarks she made earlier in the week at a literary festival, where she said she was "deceived, betrayed and lied to" by her husband.
Details of the Embezzlement
Murrell, who was the SNP's chief executive for over 20 years, used party funds to purchase luxury goods, jewellery, cosmetics, two cars, and a motorhome.
Sturgeon became emotional when discussing a necklace gifted to her by Murrell, which cost more than £400 and which she frequently wore in public.
She recounted:
"I'd been campaigning a lot in Shetland and we went to visit, as part of the campaign, we went to visit this amazing business, the Shetlands jewellers, and I was being shown around the shop and I stopped at this pendant.
I mean, you've seen pictures of it, it's beautiful.
Later that night, Peter said to me, I've got a surprise for you. And I saw you admiring this pendant and gave me it."
She struggled to contain her emotions before continuing:
"Sorry. I loved that necklace and I wore it a lot.
And this is the other thing. The idea that I would have gone about wearing things that I had known were anything other than what they were presented as, a gift from my husband... to then find out that these were gifts given to me that he'd bought with the party's money causes a level of, I don't know, pain, bewilderment.
I don't know, I just... I'm not sure. I'm going to try. I am just not sure I will ever properly come to terms with that."
Investigation and Legal Proceedings
Murrell resigned from his role as SNP chief executive in March 2023 amid controversy over membership numbers. Less than three weeks later, he was arrested in connection with Operation Branchform, the investigation into SNP funds.
Sturgeon was arrested two months after Murrell in relation to the inquiry. She was questioned by detectives but released without charge.
Following Murrell's guilty plea at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday, he was remanded in custody and faces a potentially lengthy prison sentence when he is sentenced on 23 June.
Upcoming Interview Broadcast
The full interview with Nicola Sturgeon will be broadcast on Sunday, 31 May, at 09:00 BST on BBC One, with Laura Kuenssberg.
