Peter Murrell, once the second-most powerful person in Scottish politics (right behind his then-wife Nicola Sturgeon), has pleaded guilty to embezzling over £400,000 from the Scottish National Party to fund a lifestyle that screams "I have no idea what fiscal responsibility means."
The former SNP chief executive admitted in Edinburgh's High Court on Monday that between 2010 and 2022, he helped himself to party funds to buy a luxury motor home, a Jaguar SUV, a VW Golf, boutique cosmetics, iPads, and a Lalique Feuilles salt and pepper set worth £2,618 - because apparently, seasoning your eggs with stolen money adds flavor.
Lord Young, the judge, called it a “gross breach of trust,” which is judicial code for "you're in deep trouble." Murrell, dressed in a dark blue suit and black tie, was led away in handcuffs after being remanded in custody. He now faces a lengthy prison sentence at his sentencing on June 23.
Nicola Sturgeon, the former first minister and Murrell's ex-wife, took to Instagram to insist she knew nothing about the thefts, saying, “These are not my crimes. I was misled just as others were.” She added that being deceived by a husband she loved and trusted caused her “acute pain,” which is probably more than the salt and pepper set cost.
Current SNP leader John Swinney, who appointed Murrell as chief executive back in 2001, said he felt “gutted” and “betrayed,” fighting back tears during a press conference. Swinney noted that ordinary SNP members on modest incomes had donated money, only for it to be stolen - a revelation that likely makes those members feel like they donated to a very expensive magic show.
Russell Findlay of the Scottish Conservatives and Jackie Baillie of Scottish Labour expressed skepticism that Sturgeon and Swinney could have missed such a “large-scale fraud.” Baillie suggested Swinney should compensate all those who handed over their money to the SNP, which might require selling a few of Murrell's luxury items on eBay.
The embezzlement was uncovered through Operation Branchform, a police investigation launched in July 2021 after complaints about the SNP's finances. Murrell's indictment included a 119-page list of items he bought with party money, including a £124,000 motorhome parked at his mother's driveway in Fife, a £1,300 Miele coffee machine, a telescope, a Sony PlayStation, Fortnum & Mason hampers, and several Montblanc fountain pens. Because nothing says "I'm embezzling" like a fancy pen.
Murrell used false invoices, party credit cards, and even cards taken out in the names of SNP staff to cover his tracks. Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston of Police Scotland said Murrell showed “utter contempt for the high public trust placed in him,” adding that he “bankrolled the lavish lifestyle he craved but could not afford.”
Sturgeon was arrested as a suspect in June 2023 but later cleared. The couple separated after Murrell's arrest and divorced last year. Murrell now faces a long stretch in prison, where his luxury items will likely be replaced by a standard-issue prison jumpsuit and a very different kind of salt and pepper set.