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Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party, has been sentenced to five years and three months in prison after admitting embezzlement charges.<\/p>\n
The judge Lord Young said he reduced the sentence from seven years because of Murrell\u2019s guilty plea at the preliminary hearing.<\/p>\n
Murrell, who was led into the High Court handcuffed to a female security officer, embezzled \u00a3400,000 from the party which had been raised by members to fund an independence campaign. Instead he embarked on a personal spending spree. <\/p>\n
Passing sentence, Lord Young said Murrell\u2019s actions were \u201ccalculated and dishonest\u201d and amounted to a \u201csignificant breach of trust\u201d. His position of chief executive meant he was able to \u201ccircumvent checks and balances\u201d.<\/p>\n
Murrell\u2019s lawyer John Scullion QC said his client had co-operated fully with a social work report following his guilty plea and that it contained positive information on Murrell\u2019s attitude to his offence.<\/p>\n
Mr Scullion told the court that Murrell recognised the \u201cmeasurable psychological, emotional, and financial harm\u201d done to the party.<\/p>\n
![\"Murrell](\"https:\/\/dailybusinessgroup.co.uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Murrell-arriving-in-court-for-sentence-BBC.png\")
\u201cThe accused is now an individual overwhelmed by feelings of embarrassment and shame,\u201d he added. <\/p>\n
The Crown has confirmed that there are sufficient funds for Murrell to repay the embezzled sum and Mr Scullion said Murrell wishes to start repaying it.<\/p>\n
An SNP spokesperson said: \u201cThe Scottish National Party welcomes the sentencing of Peter Murrell today for embezzling hundreds of thousands of pounds from us.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cAs chief executive, Peter Murrell was placed in a position of significant trust by the SNP, and he breached that trust in the most appalling manner.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhile Peter Murrell\u2019s sentencing does offer significant closure for SNP members, we are still seeking recovery of the money he embezzled to allow us to spend it on the purposes for which our dedicated donors intended.<\/p>\n
\u201cUnder the leadership of John Swinney, the party has undergone significant reform of its governance procedures. The SNP is in a healthy financial position and \u2013 as we saw in last month\u2019s election \u2013 that is enabling us to campaign to improve the lives of the people of Scotland, and win our nation\u2019s independence.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay said:\u00a0\u201cPeter Murrell has been brought to justice for his crimes, although he could be out in just over two years due to weak SNP sentencing policies.<\/p>\n
\u201cBut the question remains: how did he get away with this brazen and large-scale crime spree for so many years? The hard truth for Nicola Sturgeon and John Swinney is that they effectively enabled Murrell.<\/p>\n
\u201cBy assuring SNP members that the finances were sound, and issuing warnings to those raising valid concerns, they allowed Murrell to think that he was untouchable.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was only when Police Scotland were alerted to the missing independence referendum funds that they discovered Murrell\u2019s thefts.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s no wonder that Swinney is so desperate to thwart an inquiry which would examine many issues, including whether public money was stolen.\u201d<\/p>\n
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