Former Scottish National Party (SNP) chief executive Peter Murrell has been jailed after pleading guilty to embezzling £400,000 from the party between 2010 and 2022, prompting renewed calls for greater transparency and accountability within the organisation.
Murrell’s sentencing at the High Court in Edinburgh marks a significant development in the long-running Operation Branchform investigation, which examined the handling of party funds.
Following the sentencing, Police Scotland described the inquiry as one of the most detailed investigations undertaken by the force in recent years.
Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston, who led the investigation, said the case demonstrated that individuals who misuse positions of trust would be held accountable.
“Operation Branchform has been an extremely detailed, complex and intricate enquiry, carried out over a protracted period of time in order to ensure a thorough investigation which fully exposed the extent of this wrongdoing, committed over a sustained period of time.”
Houston added: “Murrell occupied a significant position of privilege and power in public life in Scotland, entrusted to oversee the day-to-day operations of the country’s governing political party. His undeniably deliberate and calculated actions to mislead and steal for his own personal gain has proved his disregard for those who placed their trust in him.”
He further stated that the outcome showed that individuals who embezzle large sums of money “will not escape justice, regardless of how high a profile or role they may hold.”
The sentencing has also reignited criticism of the SNP’s internal culture, with former SNP Member of Parliament Joanna Cherry calling for an independent inquiry into the party.
Cherry, who represented Edinburgh South West between 2015 and 2024, argued that the SNP had “squandered the many opportunities” to advance the cause of a second Scottish independence referendum and alleged that funds raised for that campaign had been stolen by Murrell.
In a post on X, she said: “Murrell would not have got away with what he did for so long without the hostility to debate, transparency and scrutiny enforced by the SNP leadership and their cronies and the harassment and intimidation of those who dared to speak up.”
“That is why we need an independent inquiry.”
During the sentencing hearing, Judge Lord Young said the punishment imposed on Murrell should serve as a warning to senior officials in other organisations who might be tempted to abuse positions of authority.
“Let me make it clear to you, one factor in the sentence which I imposed today will be to act as a deterrent to any senior officials in other large organisations who might be tempted to abuse their position in the way that you did, or on any of you.”
The judge also reflected on the circumstances surrounding the offences, saying: “It is very difficult to get a clear picture for what drove Murrell’s actions,” adding that he could not identify any mitigating factors which caused him to offend.
Lord Young further noted that many of the expensive personal items acquired by Murrell with the stolen funds were not even used.
