Peter Murrell, the husband of former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has been sentenced to five years in prison for embezzling over £400,000 from her party's funds.

Peter Murrell, former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP) and husband of former Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison for embezzling over £400,000 over a period of 12 years. This scandal, considered the largest in Scottish politics since the establishment of the Parliament in 1999, was generated by the use of party funds for ostentatious personal purchases, including a Jaguar car. Murrell pleaded guilty but did not provide explanations for his actions. His lawyer stated that he feels overwhelmed with shame.

Nicola Sturgeon, who resigned in 2023, has been retained in the investigation but has not been charged, claiming that she was unaware of her husband's crimes. Professor James Mitchell emphasized that the scandal highlighted governance issues within the SNP, which advocates for Scotland's independence. Murrell used funds from donations and subscriptions to cover his personal expenses, including by presenting false invoices and misleading descriptions of purchases.