Key Points
- Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party, is expected to appear at the High Court in Edinburgh on 25 May 2026 on charges of embezzlement.
- Murrell is accused of misappropriating about £459,000 of SNP funds over a period of more than 12 years, between August 2010 and January 2023.
- He faces a total of eight charges, including embezzlement and alleged falsification of documents to conceal the alleged misuse of funds.
- The preliminary hearing was originally scheduled for 20 February 2026 at the High Court in Glasgow but has been postponed and moved to the High Court in Edinburgh.
- The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service confirmed that Murrell will attend the new hearing date, while the Scottish government has denied any involvement in the delay.
- Police have stated that Nicola Sturgeon, Murrell’s former spouse and former first minister and SNP leader, was questioned in connection with the inquiry but has since been ruled out of further action.
Local Edinburgh(Edinburgh Daily)May 25, 2026– Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP), is expected to appear at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday, May 25, 2026, as he faces a criminal case over alleged embezzlement of party funds. His scheduled appearance follows a rescheduling of a preliminary hearing that had previously been set for 20 February at the High Court in Glasgow.
The Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service announced that Murrell, 61, would now attend the High Court in Edinburgh for the next phase of proceedings. A statement by the Crown Office, as reported by BBC News, confirmed that the hearing has been moved to after the Scottish Parliament election, emphasising that the case is being handled through the usual judicial timetable.
What are the embezzlement charges?
Murrell is charged with one main count of embezzlement, relating to about £459,046.49 of SNP funds allegedly misappropriated between 12 August 2010 and 13 January 2023. According to the indictment, the accused is alleged to have used his position as an executive officer of the party to divert this money for purposes unrelated to official SNP business.
As reported by BBC News, court documents set out that Murrell is accused of embezzling the sum over a period spanning more than 12 years. UPI similarly reported that prosecutors allege he misappropriated more than £459,000—equivalent to about $626,000—during that time. Additional details shared by broadcaster‑based coverage indicate that the alleged misuse of funds included substantial personal‑style spending, such as large purchases on Amazon and other expenses that were not authorised as legitimate party outlays.
The Crown’s indictment lists a total of eight charges against Murrell, which include not only embezzlement but also accusations of falsifying documents connected with the alleged theft. These charges are said to relate, in part, to paperwork concerning the purchase of high‑value items, such as a motor home reportedly bought for £125,000, which the prosecution alleges were misrepresented as party‑authorised transactions.
Rescheduling and venue change
The initial preliminary hearing in Murrell’s case was scheduled for 20 February 2026 at the High Court in Glasgow. However, as reported by Holyrood magazine and BBC News, that date was postponed and the hearing moved to the High Court in Edinburgh on 25 May.
Holyrood reported that the Crown Office announced the change, noting that Murrell would now face a preliminary hearing in Edinburgh instead of Glasgow. BBC News explained that the rescheduling means the hearing will take place after the May 2026 Scottish Parliament election, and that the Crown said the matter was being handled in line with the normal court‑listing schedule.
The Scottish government has publicly denied any role in the decision to delay the hearing. As reported by BBC News and STV News, ministers stated they were not involved in the timing shift, characterising it as a judicial and Crown‑office decision rather than a political one.
Investigation into SNP finances
The charges against Murrell emerged from a wider police investigation into the SNP’s finances, which began after questions were raised about how the party was using its funds. Police inquiries looked at a series of transactions, including major purchases and payments, during Murrell’s tenure as chief executive.
According to BBC News, Nicola Sturgeon was questioned by detectives as part of this inquiry but has since been informed that she will face no further action. The BBC added that prosecutors made clear Sturgeon was not being charged and that she was not a target of the criminal case now proceeding against Murrell.
Reporters from Holyrood and other outlets noted that the investigation has attracted intense political and media scrutiny, given Murrell’s long‑standing role at the heart of the SNP’s operations and the close personal link between him and Sturgeon. However, all major outlets have stressed that the case remains one of individual criminal charges, with no formal allegations yet made against the SNP as an organisation.
Background of the development
The case against Peter Murrell follows a broader period of upheaval in Scottish nationalist politics, including leadership changes within the SNP and heightened focus on the party’s finances. Prior to the criminal charges, party members and outside auditors had raised concerns about the transparency and accountability of how money was being spent, particularly around large one‑off purchases and campaign‑related expenditures.
Murrell served as SNP chief executive for well over a decade, making him one of the most influential back‑office figures in the party’s history. His arrest and subsequent indictment represent a rare instance of a senior party official in the UK facing serious criminal charges directly tied to alleged misuse of political funds. The move to the High Court in Edinburgh for the 25 May hearing places the case within the highest level of Scotland’s criminal‑court system, underscoring the seriousness with which prosecutors are treating the allegations.
Predicted impact on Scottish politics and public trust
The forthcoming court appearance of Peter Murrell on embezzlement charges is likely to keep the SNP under close public and media scrutiny, especially as the case progresses through the High Court. For voters, the charges may sharpen questions about how political parties manage donations and public‑funded or party‑donated money, and whether existing audit and regulatory systems are strong enough to prevent or detect misuse.
For the SNP specifically, the trial could influence how the party is perceived in the run‑up to and in the immediate aftermath of the May 2026 Holyrood election. Even though no charges have been brought against the party as an institution, the association of a long‑serving senior official with serious financial misconduct may erode public trust and complicate efforts to present a unified, reformist image.
In the longer term, the case may prompt calls for tighter oversight of party finances across Scottish political groups, including more frequent, independent audits and greater transparency around high‑value expenditures. For the wider UK, the outcome could become a reference point in debates about campaign‑finance rules and the accountability of political operatives who manage large sums of money on behalf of elected parties.
