Sturgeon describes 'worst week of my life' after husband Murrell embezzled £400k from SNP

Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has spoken publicly for the first time since her estranged husband, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the Scottish National Party. Speaking at Listowel Writers' Week in County Kerry, Ireland, Sturgeon described the period as "probably the worst week of my life," saying she feels deceived, betrayed, and lied to by someone she "obviously didn't know at all." Murrell used the embezzled funds to purchase luxury goods including a Niesmann and Bischoff motorhome for £124,550, a Montblanc fountain pen, jewellery, cosmetics, and two cars. He was remanded in custody following his guilty plea and faces sentencing on June 23, 2026. Sturgeon was arrested in June 2023 as part of the Operation Branchform probe but faced no further action. She said she was unaware of Murrell's spending sprees and learned details of the embezzled items through newspaper reports. Meanwhile, First Minister John Swinney dismissed calls for a Holyrood inquiry into the Murrell case during FMQs on May 28, 2026.