Last reviewed: 25 May 2026
TL;DR: Peter Murrell, former SNP chief executive and husband of ex-First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, was convicted of embezzling SNP funds. The case has significant implications for SNP governance and ongoing Police Scotland financial investigations into the party.Peter Murrell, former chief executive of the Scottish National Party and husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has been at the centre of one of Scotland's most significant political and financial legal proceedings in recent years. Here is what the case involves and what follows.
Who Is Peter Murrell?
Peter Murrell served as SNP chief executive from 1999 until his resignation in March 2023 - a tenure of more than two decades that made him one of the longest-serving party chiefs in UK politics. He was married to Nicola Sturgeon, who served as First Minister of Scotland from 2014 to 2023. Murrell's role gave him operational control over the party's finances, staffing, and administration.
The Embezzlement Charges
The charges against Murrell centred on the alleged misuse of SNP membership funds. Police Scotland launched Operation Branchform in 2021, investigating the SNP's finances following concerns raised internally about the handling of around GBP600,000 raised from members in a dedicated independence referendum fighting fund.
Murrell was arrested in April 2023 and subsequently charged. The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service in Scotland handled the prosecution. The case proceeded through the Scottish court system under Scots law, which operates separately from the English and Welsh legal system.
Nicola Sturgeon's Position
Nicola Sturgeon was also arrested and questioned as part of Operation Branchform, though she was not charged. She has consistently maintained her innocence and denied any wrongdoing in relation to the party's finances. Sturgeon resigned as First Minister in February 2023, citing the personal toll of the role.
Implications for the SNP
The case has had material political consequences. The SNP's membership and fundraising have fallen significantly since 2023. The party lost its Westminster majority in the 2024 general election, returning 9 MPs compared to 48 in 2019. Current SNP leader John Swinney has sought to draw a line under the period, describing it as a chapter of poor governance that the party has had to address.
From a governance standpoint, the case has prompted scrutiny of how political parties manage ring-fenced fundraising and member donations under UK company and charity law frameworks.
What the Verdict Means Legally
A conviction for embezzlement under Scots law carries the possibility of a custodial sentence, though sentencing takes into account a range of factors including the value of funds involved, any restitution, and personal circumstances. Sentencing follows a separate hearing after conviction and is at the discretion of the presiding judge.
Operation Branchform itself remains ongoing according to Police Scotland - the Murrell proceedings were one strand of a wider financial investigation into the SNP.
What Happens to Ring-Fenced Political Donations?
Political party finances in the UK are regulated by the Electoral Commission under the Political Parties, Elections and Referendums Act 2000 (PPERA). Parties must report donations above certain thresholds and submit annual accounts. However, there is no statutory requirement for parties to ring-fence money raised for specific campaigns in a legally separate fund - this is a matter of internal governance and member trust rather than regulatory obligation.
What did Peter Murrell do?
Peter Murrell, former SNP chief executive, was convicted of embezzling SNP funds following a Police Scotland investigation known as Operation Branchform, which examined the handling of around GBP600,000 raised from SNP members for an independence referendum fund.
Was Nicola Sturgeon charged?
Nicola Sturgeon was arrested and questioned as part of Operation Branchform but was not charged. She has denied any wrongdoing.
What is Operation Branchform?
Operation Branchform is a Police Scotland financial investigation into the SNP, launched in 2021. The Murrell proceedings were one strand of a wider inquiry that Police Scotland has said remains ongoing.
What happens to Murrell now?
Following conviction, sentencing takes place at a separate hearing. A conviction for embezzlement under Scots law can carry a custodial sentence, with the specific outcome at judicial discretion.
How are UK political party finances regulated?
UK political party finances are regulated by the Electoral Commission under PPERA 2000. Parties must report donations above set thresholds and file annual accounts. Ring-fencing of specific campaign funds is a matter of internal governance, not a statutory requirement.
