Who is Peter Murrell? The former SNP chief executive found guilty of embezzlement

Mr Murrell played a vital role in the party for more than two decades, helping to turn it into the dominant force in Scottish politics.

He replaced Michael Russell as chief executive just as the devolution era was dawning in Scotland, and his backroom skills would prove invaluable.

The SNP's breakthrough at the Holyrood election in 2007 has been partly credited to Mr Murrell's formidable capacity as an organiser.

His marriage to Nicola Sturgeon helped cement his position as one of the most powerful figures in Scottish politics.

Power couple

The couple married at a ceremony in Glasgow in 2010, but had been together since early 2003. They met through the party in the late 1980s.

During Mr Murrell’s 20-year stint at the helm of the SNP, Ms Sturgeon rose through the ranks after first being elected to the Scottish Parliament in 1999.

She put herself forward for the leadership in 2004, before agreeing to a joint ticket with Alex Salmond, standing as his deputy.

The SNP won power as a minority government in 2007 and made huge electoral gains in the 2011 election, securing an unprecedented majority. After Mr Salmond’s resignation in 2014 following the independence referendum, Ms Sturgeon was elected unopposed as his successor.

This led to questions about the appropriateness of Mr Murrell staying in post.

Questions

“I’ve been deputy leader for years while Peter’s been chief executive for ten years,” Ms Sturgeon said at the time. “That’s not been an issue that’s given rise to any concern internally.

“In the constitution of the SNP, the oversight of the administrative side of the party lies with the business convener, not with the leader. So I’m comfortable there are no issues that arise.”

Mr Murrell clearly preferred to avoid the spotlight, but this was not always possible. In 2020, he found himself answering questions before a Holyrood committee during the inquiry into the Scottish Government’s handling of harassment complaints against Mr Salmond.

After eight years in the top job, Ms Sturgeon announced her intention to stand down as first minister in February 2023. Her husband quit as SNP chief executive shortly afterwards, amid a row over party membership numbers.

Operation Branchform

In April that year, police descended on the couple’s home on the outskirts of Glasgow as Operation Branchform - the name given to the investigation into the SNP’s finances - exploded into the headlines.

The probe was launched in 2021 following questions about how more than £600,000 in donations to the SNP earmarked for an independence referendum had been used.

Mr Murrell was arrested and released without charge, as was former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie. Ms Sturgeon was arrested in June 2023 and also released without charge.

Then, in April last year, Mr Murrell was charged in connection with the embezzlement of funds from the SNP. It is understood he has resigned his party membership.

Ms Sturgeon announced the couple were divorcing in January this year.

Writing on Instagram, she said: “To all intents and purposes we have been separated for some time now and feel it is time to bring others up to speed with where we are. It goes without saying that we still care deeply for each other, and always will. We will be making no further comment.”

Police have confirmed Ms Sturgeon and Mr Beattie are no longer under investigation.