As the SNP’s long-standing chief executive, Murrell oversaw the party’s rocketing rise in popularity and a large influx of new members

Peter Murrell, the estranged husband of former Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon, has pleaded guilty to embezzling over 400,000 pounds from the Scottish National Party.

Murrell, who was the nationalists' chief executive for 22 years, pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh this morning.

Murrell pleaded guilty to the charges when he appeared in court