Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell admits embezzling £400,000

The former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has been remanded in custody after he admitted embezzling £400,000 from the party.

Murrell, the estranged husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, pleaded guilty to an amended indictment at the High Court in Edinburgh.

Earlier this year it emerged he was accused of using funds he embezzled from the SNP to purchase items including luxury goods, jewellery, cosmetics, two cars and a motorhome.

Murrell today admitted to embezzling £400,310.65 between 12 August 2010 and 19 October 2022.

He was arrested as part of Police Scotland’s long-running Operation Branchform and charged in April 2024.

Sturgeon and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie were also arrested during the investigation but later released without charge.

Judge Lord Young said Murrell was responsible for a “gross breach of trust”.

He will be sentenced next month.