Peter Murrell, who served as the chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP) for 22 years, has been arrested and charged by police amid allegations of embezzlement. Murrell is the husband of former Scottish First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon. While leaving their Glasgow family home, Sturgeon described the situation as “incredibly difficult.” Murrell was previously arrested but not charged in April 2023.
First Minister Humza Yousaf described the news as a “serious, serious development,” and confirmed that Murrell had resigned from the SNP. The ongoing investigation into SNP financing began in July 2021 following several complaints about the use of donations. The donations reportedly exceeded £660,000, which was intended for a campaign supporting Scottish independence.
The difference between embezzlement and theft is that embezzlement involves the accused unlawfully handling property they were trusted with. The exact details of Murrell’s arrest have not been revealed to the public. Scottish police have not arrested or charged Sturgeon or the party’s former treasurer, Colin Beattie, and both remain members of the SNP, though they are also under investigation.
In 2010, Sturgeon and Murrell were married. When Murrell was arrested, police searched both SNP headquarters in Edinburgh and the couple’s Glasgow home. Sturgeon herself was also arrested in June 2022 as part of the SNP financing investigation, though she was released without charges being filed
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