Peter Murrell Faces Eight Charges, Including £460k SNP Embezzlement

Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon, faces serious legal issues. He has been charged with embezzlement of SNP funds totaling approximately £460,000, stemming from activities between 2010 and 2023.

Details of the Charges Against Peter Murrell

Murrell’s eight charges include a series of fraudulent financial activities:

• Alleged embezzlement of £459,046.49 in SNP funds over 13 years.
• Purchase of a £124,550 motorhome using party funds, marked for personal use.
• Creation of false documents to represent the motorhome purchase as a legitimate party expense.
• Misappropriation of £16,489 of SNP funds for a £33,000 Volkswagen Golf in 2016.
• Use of £57,500 from SNP funds for an £81,000 Jaguar I-Pace in 2019, with supposedly fabricated invoices.
• Claiming £18,408.91 in expenses for which he had no entitlement, including false invoices.
• Spending £159,757.39 of SNP funds across 82 retailers for allegedly personal items from 2014 to 2022.
• Questionable purchases amounting to £81,610.19 on Amazon from 2010 to 2023 for personal use.

Timeline of the Alleged Fraudulent Activities

The accusations span from August 12, 2010, to January 13, 2023. During this period, the SNP was governing Scotland and overseeing the 2014 independence referendum.

The most notable charge centers around the motorhome bought in October 2020. Murrell reportedly used an SNP credit card for £12,500 of the purchase. He later transferred an additional £112,050 from an SNP account to complete the transaction.

Documents and Misconduct

Murrell is alleged to have generated false documentation to depict the motorhome purchase legitimately. Additionally, a false invoice was created for the Jaguar I-Pace, with inaccurate details recorded in the party’s accounting system. When sold in August 2021 for £47,378, the proceeds were allegedly deposited into Murrell’s personal account.

Investigations and Arrests

Murrell served as the SNP’s chief executive from 2001 until March 2023. The police investigation, named Operation Branchform, initiated in 2021 after public complaints regarding SNP’s use of more than £600,000 raised for fighting a second independence referendum.

He was arrested in April 2023, with subsequent searches conducted at his residence and the SNP headquarters. Murrell was released without charge initially but was later re-arrested in April 2024.

Court Appearance and Future Proceedings

On February 20, 2025, Murrell is expected to make a court appearance at Glasgow’s High Court. There, he will enter his plea regarding the embezzlement charges. This ongoing legal battle continues to unfold alongside significant changes within the SNP leadership.

The case highlights serious implications for the SNP and its leadership amidst claims of financial mismanagement during pivotal events, including the independence referendum campaigns.