See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred SourceBy STEVEN DONN, DEPUTY EDITOR - SCOTLAND Updated: 09:55 BST, 23 June 2026
The Peter Murrell scandal has rocked the SNP and shocked the public given the sheer scale and, indeed, strangeness of the fraud he committed. The former SNP chief executive, the estranged husband of former SNP leader and First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has been sentenced to five years and three months after having admitted his guilt of a £400,000 embezzlement last month. 08:52From Mail reporter Dan Barker...Lord Young ordered first offender Murrell to his feet at 9.44am as he delivers his sentencing remarks. Murrell was told he must serve five years and three months backdated to May 25 when he was remanded. Had he not admitted his crimes, Lord Young said, he would have been jailed for seven years. At 9.48am, the hearing leaves and Murrell is handcuffed and led out of court by the security guards. 08:44Peter Murrell has 'sufficient funds under his control to repay the sum embezzled'From Mail reporter Dan Barker...John Scullion KC tells the High Court in Edinburgh his client wishes to repay the sum embezzled. He says: ‘There will be sufficient funds under his control to repay the sum embezzled.’It comes after the Kings Counsel says that his client’s ‘humiliation will endure beyond any sentence … and may prove lifelong’. 08:41Peter Murrell ‘overwhelmed by embarrassment and shame’, says lawyerFrom Mail reporter Dan Barker...Peter Murrell stands, along with the rest of the court, at 9.34am as Lord Young arrives for the sentencing. John scullion KC, for Murrell, tells the court there was no alternative to a custodial sentence. The mitigating lawyer says his client is now ‘overwhelmed by embarrassment and shame’ and ‘he is entirely to blame’. 08:34The sentencing WILL be televised...From Mail reporter Dan Barker...A handcuffed Peter Murrell arrived in court at 9.32am, with the shamed former SNP chief executive avoiding looking into the public gallery as he was led in by two security guards.Within the next few minutes the 61-year-old will learn his fate when Lord Young passes his sentence at the High Court in Edinburgh.As Nicola Sturgeon’s estranged husband arrives into Court Three, where there are more around 60members of the press and public, two television cameras are broadcasting his court appearance. 08:32So, what was 'Shoe-gate' all about? The Mail's Scottish Home Affairs Editor Graham Grant is at the High Court today. Here's his take on one the 'Shoe-gate' episode, which was just the latest twist in this remarkable story... 08:14Peter Murrell has arrived...Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell has arrived at court in Edinburgh, as he awaits sentencing for embezzling more than £400,000 from the party.The 61-year-old is due to be sentenced at the city’s High Court.He arrived in a white prison van.08:1008:0908:00The political fallout is still ongoing, tooThe demands for an inquiry into the Peter Murrell scandal have been fiercely resisted by the SNP Government but there are signs Westminster will step in. There are certainly many questions still be answered...07:58A reminder of that bizarre shopping list...07:53What time are proceedings due to begin?We're expecting things to start around 9.30am. In theory, it shouldn't be a long process but given what has gone before, there could always be a surprise or two coming our way. Thus far, we have still to hear from Peter Murrell... 07:40READ: Shoe want the truth?Key UpdatesPeter Murrell has been sentenced to FIVE yearsPeter Murrell has 'sufficient funds under his control to repay the sum embezzled'Peter Murrell ‘overwhelmed by embarrassment and shame’, says lawyerThe sentencing WILL be televised...Peter Murrell has arrived...So, how did we get here? A timeline of the downfall of Peter Murrell...
