Peter Murrell

Peter Tierney Murrell (born 1964) is a Scottish former political worker who served as Chief Executive Officer of the Scottish National Party (SNP) from 2001 to 2023. He was married to Nicola Sturgeon, the former leader of the SNP and First Minister of Scotland. A key figure in the SNP for over twenty years, Murrell resigned his membership in 2023 after being arrested as part of Operation Branchform, a major police investigation into the party's finances. Murrell was subsequently charged with embezzlement in 2024 and appeared in court for the first time in 2025.

Early life

Peter Tierney Murrell was born in Edinburgh in 1964. He studied at Craigmount High School and at the University of Glasgow.

Before entering politics, Peter Murrell was a public relations officer for the Church of Scotland for four years.

Political career

Early career

In 1989 Murrell was elected Membership Convener by the SNP Peterhead branch. In the May 1992 local elections for Banff and Buchan District Council, Murrell was election agent for candidates in both the Longside / Rattray, and Buchanhaven / Catto wards. In June 1993 Murrell was re-appointed secretary of the Banff and Buchan branch of Citizens Advice. By May 1994, when he was reportedly "bombed" by a seagull in Peterhead while taking voters to polling stations, Murrell was a "research assistant to party leader Alex Salmond". In February 1995, Murrell was working as a Parliamentary Assistant to Dr Allan Macartney MEP based in Aberdeen. The Evening Express stated that he had been "previously responsible for MP Alex Salmond's Banff Buchan office". In December 1996 Murrell's reported role was "constituency researcher". During his time working for the SNP, Murrell acted as its fishing spokesperson.

By February 1999 he was working as a staff member in the new office of MEP Ian Hudghton in Aberdeen along with Dr Eilidh Whiteford. He was described as "a former assistant to both SNP leader Alex Salmond and the late Allan Macartney". In March 1999 Murrell was quoted in the Aberdeen Press and Journal as "SNP Fisheries Spokesman" who supported controls on the number of grey seals.

SNP Chief Executive

Murrell replaced Michael Russell as chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in 2001, under the leadership of John Swinney. He had previously worked in the Banff and Buchan constituency office of Alex Salmond, the former party leader. The party's success in the 2007 elections was credited to organisation by Murrell.

In January 2019 Kenny MacAskill, former SNP Justice Secretary suggested Murrell should resign.

Following his testimony to the Committee on the Scottish Government Handling of Harassment Complaints in December 2020, Murrell was reported to the Lord Advocate by committee member Murdo Fraser, who alleged Murrell had made a "false statement" under oath while giving evidence. Murrell said he "absolutely refuted" the allegation.

Murrell is facing questions from party members over the alleged disappearance of £600,000 in donations to the party. Police in Scotland are currently investigating an allegation of fraud about the missing £600,000. ''The Scotsman'' reported in June 2021 that Police Scotland had been asked to investigate Murrell regarding a donation to SNP from lottery winners Colin and Christine Weir, which they subsequently asked to be returned to them.

Murrell has also faced questions from Labour and Conservatives over a £107,620 interest-free loan made to the SNP on 20 June 2021, that was not declared to the Electoral Commission for more than a year after the July 2021 deadline. The SNP stated that it did not declare the loan as it "did not think" the matter was reportable. The loan was to assist with cashflow problems at the party.

When his wife, Nicola Sturgeon, announced her resignation as first minister on 15 February 2023, Joanna Cherry, an SNP MP, called for Murrell to step down as CEO of the party stating "The SNP Leadership & party management have been deeply bound together. I cannot see any circumstances in which Peter Murrell can continue as Chief Executive under a new leader who must be free to choose a successor."

Dispute over membership numbers and resignation

During the 2023 leadership election, the SNP was pressed to reveal the size of its membership. The party’s national executive committee published the figure of 72,186 as of 15 February 2023, down from 104,000 members in 2021. There had been earlier reports that the party's membership had dropped by around 30,000. Murray Foote, the SNP’s media chief, had described these reports as "inaccurate" and "drivel". In response to the confirmation of the numbers, he said he had been acting in "good faith" with earlier "inaccurate drivel" comments, but resigned his position "in good faith". This then led to the SNP's national executive committee giving Murrell an ultimatum as he was blamed for Foote having been misinformed. Murrell resigned as SNP Chief Executive "with immediate effect" on 18 March 2023 ahead of a vote of no-confidence. In a statement, Murrell said: "Responsibility for the SNP's responses to media queries about our membership number lies with me as chief executive. While there was no intent to mislead, I accept that this has been the outcome. I have therefore decided to confirm my intention to step down as chief executive with immediate effect." He was succeeded as acting SNP chef executive by Michael Russell.

Criminal investigation into SNP finances

On 5 April 2023, Murrell was arrested by police in connection with Operation Branchform, an investigation into Scottish National Party finances. Police Scotland said they were searching a number of addresses, and police were seen at the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh and at the home of Murrell and Sturgeon in Glasgow. He was later released without charge, pending further investigation. As part of the investigation, a Niesmann + Bischoff motorhome was seized by police from Murrell's mother's home near Dunfermline. Murrell later resigned his membership of the SNP.

On 18 April 2024, Murrell was re-arrested in connection with the investigation. Later that day, Murrell was formally charged with embezzlement of funds from the SNP.

Murrell appeared in court for the first time on 20 March 2025 charged with embezzlement. He did not enter a plea. He was released on bail pending his trial.

Personal life

While running Alex Salmond's Banff and Buchan constituency office, Murrell helped to organise SNP youth weekends. He first met 18-year-old Nicola Sturgeon at one of these events in 1988. Sturgeon and Murrell became a couple in 2003 and were married in July 2010 in Glasgow at Òran Mór.

On 13 January 2025, Sturgeon announced in a post on Instagram that she and Murrell had separated and are to divorce.

References

External links

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{{DEFAULTSORT:Murrell, Peter
1964 births
Living people
Politicians from Edinburgh
Scottish public relations people
Scottish National Party politicians
Spouses of British politicians
Citizens Advice
Alumni of the University of Glasgow
20th-century Scottish politicians
21st-century Scottish politicians
Date of birth missing (living people)
People charged with fraud
People educated at Craigmount High School