Sturgeon says she was ‘deceived, misled and betrayed’ by ex-husband Murrell

Nicola Sturgeon, the former Scottish first minister, has spoken publicly for the first time since her ex-husband, Peter Murrell, pleaded guilty to embezzling over £400,000 from the Scottish National Party (SNP). Addressing an audience in Ireland, Sturgeon described feeling “deceived, betrayed and lied to” by Murrell, saying she is coming to terms with having been married to someone she “did not know at all.” Murrell was remanded in custody after admitting to misappropriating funds between 2010 and 2022, spending the money on luxury items including cars, watches, and a motorhome. Sturgeon, who was promoting her memoir at Listowel Writers’ Week in County Kerry, emphasized that she had no knowledge of Murrell’s crimes and was not charged following a two-year police investigation. She acknowledged the public’s likely skepticism about her ignorance of the theft but insisted that she only learned about many of the purchases through media reports. Sturgeon described the past week as “probably the worst” of her life and said she would likely seek therapy to cope with the emotional toll. Despite the ordeal, she expressed confidence in her resilience and ability to recover. The scandal has raised questions about governance and financial oversight within the SNP, with critics accusing the party of failing to safeguard donor funds. Murrell, who served as SNP chief executive and was married to Sturgeon for over two decades, admitted to using party money for personal expenses. The case has cast a shadow over the party’s leadership and fundraising practices, intensifying scrutiny as Scotland approaches future elections. Sturgeon’s insistence on her innocence and cooperation with authorities aims to separate her from the wrongdoing, but the episode remains a significant blow to her political legacy and the SNP’s public image.