Peter Murrell
{{short description|Former Chief Executive Officer of the Scottish National Party}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2025}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| name = Peter Murrell
| image = Peter Murrell 2014.jpg
| office = Chief Executive Officer of the Scottish National Party
| leader = John Swinney
Alex Salmond
Nicola Sturgeon
| term_start = 2001
| term_end = 18 March 2023
| predecessor = Michael Russell
| successor = Michael Russell (acting)
| birth_name = Peter Tierney Murrell
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|df=yes|1964|12|8}}
| birth_place = Edinburgh, Scotland
| death_date =
| death_place =
| party = Scottish National Party (until 2024)
| spouse = {{marriage|Nicola Sturgeon|16 July 2010|2025|reason={{abbr|sep.|separated}}}}
| caption = Murrell in 2014
| alma_mater = University of Glasgow
}}
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 former leader of the SNP and First Minister of Scotland Nicola Sturgeon from 2010 until their separation in 2025.
A key figure in the SNP for over twenty years, Murrell was regarded as central to the SNP's victory in the 2007 Scottish Parliament election. He came under greater scrutiny after 2015 when his wife Nicola Sturgeon became SNP leader, and his role in both the Alex Salmond sexual harassment scandal and controversial party financing led several senior party figures to call for his resignation. After being accused of giving misleading party membership figures during the 2023 Scottish National Party leadership election, Murrell resigned as chief executive in the March of that year.
Murrell subsequently resigned his membership of the party after being arrested as part of Operation Branchform, a major police investigation into the party's finances. He was 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.{{Cite web |title=European Parliamentary Election for the Electoral Region of Scotland 22 May 2014 Notice of Election Agents Appointed |url=https://www.orkney.gov.uk/Files/Council/Elections/European_elections_2014/PUBLIC_Notice_of_Election_Agents_GD_240414.pdf |access-date=7 April 2023 |website=Orkney Islands Council}}{{Cite web |title=Peter Murrell: who is Nicola Sturgeon's husband and the SNP Chief Executive? |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/peter-murrell-who-is-nicola-sturgeons-husband-and-the-snp-chief-executive-3000410/}} He studied at Craigmount High School and at the University of Glasgow.{{Cite web |title=Who is Peter Murrell? Nicola Sturgeon's husband arrested in SNP finances probe |url=https://app.standard.co.uk/news/uk/who-peter-murrell-nicola-sturgeon-husband-arrested-snp-finances-b1072455.html/}}{{Cite web |last1=Sawer |first1=Patrick |last2=Sanderson |first2=Daniel |date=5 April 2023 |title=Peter Murrell: Nicola Sturgeon's trusty sidekick who helped propel the SNP to power |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/04/05/who-peter-murrell-nicola-sturgeon-snp-chief-executive/ |access-date=9 April 2023 |website=The Daily Telegraph}}
Before entering politics, Peter Murrell was a public relations officer for the Church of Scotland for four years.{{Cite web |last=Jackson |first=Russell |date=8 February 2021 |title=Who is Peter Murrell? How did he end up as SNP chief executive and why did he resign? |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/who-is-peter-murrell-how-did-he-end-up-as-snp--executive-and-why-did-he-resign-3127608 |access-date=9 April 2023 |website=The Scotsman}}
Political career
= Early career =
In 1989 Murrell was elected Membership Convener by the SNP Peterhead branch.{{Cite news |date=14 February 1989 |title=SNP Officials |page=30 |work=Aberdeen Press and Journal |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19890214/589/0030 |access-date=8 April 2023 |via=British Newspaper Archive}} 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.{{Cite news |date=24 April 1992 |title=Banff And Buchan District Council // District Council Elections 7th May 1992 |page=18 |work=Aberdeen Press and Journal |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19920424/214/0018 |access-date=8 April 2023 |via=British Newspaper Archive}} In June 1993 Murrell was re-appointed secretary of the Banff and Buchan branch of Citizens Advice.{{Cite news |last=Phillips |first=Bill |date=7 June 1993 |title=CAB Staff Morale Slumps |page=27 |work=Aberdeen Press and Journal |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19930607/489/0027 |access-date=8 April 2023 |via=British Newspaper Archive}} 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".{{Cite news |date=6 May 1994 |title=Whoops |page=10 |work=Aberdeen Press and Journal |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/BL/0000578/19940506/118/0010 |access-date=8 April 2023 |via=British Newspaper Archive}} In February 1995, Murrell was working as a Parliamentary Assistant to Dr Allan Macartney MEP based in Aberdeen.{{Cite news |date=20 February 1995 |title=SNP Brings Europe to City Centre Office |page=11 |work=Aberdeen Evening Express |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19950220/143/0011 |access-date=8 April 2023 |via=British Newspaper Archive}} The Evening Express stated that he had been "previously responsible for MP Alex Salmond's Banff Buchan office".{{Cite news |date=9 September 1994 |title=SNP Set to open Euro Info Centre |page=9 |work=Aberdeen Evening Express |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000445/19940909/053/0009 |access-date=8 April 2023 |via=British Newspaper Archive}} In December 1996 Murrell's reported role was "constituency researcher".{{Cite news |last=Gault |first=David |date=6 December 1996 |title=Six Months to Save Oil and Gas Funding |page=21 |work=Aberdeen Press and Journal |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19961206/248/0021 |access-date=8 April 2023 |via=British Newspaper Archive}} During his time working for the SNP, Murrell acted as its fishing spokesperson.{{Cite web |title=Investigation: Inside the SNP money machine |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/23703844.investigation-inside-snp-money-machine/}}
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{{Cite news |last=Perry |first=David |date=5 March 1999 |title=Parties Row over ban on seal cull |page=7 |work=Aberdeen Press and Journal |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19990305/084/0007 |access-date=8 April 2023 |via=British Newspaper Archive}} SNP leader Alex Salmond and the late Allan Macartney".{{Cite news |date=1 February 1999 |title=MEP's office |page=27 |work=Aberdeen Press and Journal |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19990201/530/0027 |access-date=8 April 2023 |via=British Newspaper Archive}} In March 1999 Murrell was quoted in The Press and Journal as "SNP Fisheries Spokesman" who supported controls on the number of grey seals.{{Cite news |date=5 March 1999 |title=Parties Row over ban on seal cull |page=7 |work=Aberdeen Press and Journal - Friday 05 March 1999 |url=https://www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk/viewer/bl/0000578/19990305/084/0007 |access-date=8 April 2023 |via=British Newspaper Archive}}
= SNP Chief Executive =
== Early years ==
Murrell replaced Michael Russell as chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in 2001, under the leadership of John Swinney.{{Cite news |date=4 October 2001 |title=Swinney shuns spin in party posts |work=The Herald |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/12143178.swinney-shuns-spin-in-party-posts/}}{{Cite web |last=Whitaker |first=Andrew |date=23 April 2018 |title=Spouse of the First Minister of Scotland |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/16175845.just-who-is-peter-murrell/ |access-date=4 February 2019 |website=The Herald}} He had previously worked in the Banff and Buchan constituency office of Alex Salmond, the former party leader.{{Cite web |date=28 February 2019 |title=Who is Peter Murrell the SNP chief executive and why is he facing calls to quit? |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/who-is-peter-murrell-the-snp-chief-executive-and-why-is-he-facing-calls-to-quit-1-4861417 |website=The Scotsman|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407045334/https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/who-peter-murrell-snp-chief-executive-and-why-he-facing-calls-quit-1422320 |archive-date=7 April 2023 |url-status=dead|access-date=23 June 2025}}
The party's success in the 2007 elections was credited to organisation by Murrell.{{Cite journal |last=Camp |first=Edwige |date=20 December 2014 |title=The Scottish National Party (SNP) : A Party of Government in the early 21st Century |url=http://journals.openedition.org/lisa/7008 |journal=Revue LISA/LISA e-journal. Littératures, Histoire des Idées, Images, Sociétés du Monde Anglophone – Literature, History of Ideas, Images and Societies of the English-speaking World |volume=XII|issue=8 |doi=10.4000/lisa.7008 |issn=1762-6153 |doi-access=free}}{{Cite web |title=Peter Murrel |url=https://www.politics.co.uk/reference/peter-murrell-profile/ |website=www.politics.co.uk}}
== Under Nicola Sturgeon's leadership ==
Murrell's wife Nicola Sturgeon became party leader and First Minister in 2015, bringing his role as chief executive under greater scrutiny. Nicola Sturgeon insisted that there was no conflict on interest in herself and her husband both occupying senior party roles, telling The Herald, "I've been deputy leader for years while Peter's been chief executive for 10 years. That's not been an issue that's given rise to any concern internally. In the constitution of the SNP, the oversight of the administrative side of the party lies with the business convener, not with the leader. So I'm comfortable there are no issues that arise."
Following the 2017 United Kingdom general election, where the SNP unexpectedly lost 21 seats, questions were raised within the party over the concentration of power among a "coterie" of top advisers that included Murrell. In January 2019 Kenny MacAskill, former SNP Justice Secretary, suggested that Murrell should resign, saying that a married couple running senior positions in the same organisation would not be tolerated in the media, business, or public sectors.
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.{{Cite news |date=8 February 2021 |title=Sturgeon's husband 'refutes' perjury claim but ducks key question |work=The Herald |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/news/19073067.alex-salmond-inquiry-nicola-sturgeons-husband-peter-murrell-refutes-perjury-claim-ducks-key-question/}}{{Cite tweet |number=1358820712253906946 |user=murdo_fraser |title=Following Peter Murrell's evidence to the Salmond Inquiry Committee today, I have written to the Lord Advocate asking |first=Murdo |last=Fraser}}
In 2021, Murrell faced questions from party members over the alleged disappearance of £600,000 in donations to the party. 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.{{Cite news |last=Brown |first=Alexander |date=13 June 2021 |title=Police investigating SNP over money donated by EuroMillions winners Christine and Colin Weir |work=The Scotsman |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/politics/police-investigating-snp-over-money-donated-by-euromillions-winners-christine-and-colin-weir-3271299}}{{Cite news |date=14 December 2022 |title=Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell gave £100,000 loan to SNP |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-scotland-politics-63973961 |access-date=9 January 2023}} Murrell 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.{{Cite news |date=14 December 2022 |title=SNP respond to accusations of 'murky' £100,000 loan from Peter Murrell |work=The National |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/23191346.snp-respond-accusations-murky-100k-loan-peter-murrell/ |access-date=9 January 2023}}{{Cite news |date=14 December 2022 |title=Sturgeon's husband in row over 'murky' £100,000 loan to SNP |work=The Herald |url=https://www.heraldscotland.com/politics/23190861.sturgeons-husband-row-murky-100-000-loan-snp/ |access-date=9 January 2023}} These concerns escalated into a major police investigation into fraud, codenamed Operation Branchform, in which Murrell was ultimately arrested and charged.{{Cite news |last=Ferguson |first=John |date=4 April 2021 |title=Fraud cops probe SNP over £600k of indyref 2 funds after claims cash 'diverted' |work=Daily Record |url=https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/police-probe-claims-funds-raised-23849173}}
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."{{Cite tweet |number=1625868313048801281 |user=joannaccherry |title=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. Meantime we need a neutral caretaker CEO. |first=Joanna |last=Cherry |access-date=15 February 2023}}
== Dispute over membership numbers and resignation ==
During the 2023 leadership election, the SNP was pressed to reveal the size of its membership.{{Cite web |title=SNP rebuff calls from leadership candidates to publish membership numbers |url=https://www.thenational.scot/news/23389520.snp-rebuff-calls-publish-party-membership-numbers/ |website=The National}} The party’s national executive committee published the figure of 72,186 as of 15 February 2023, down from 104,000 members in 2021.{{Cite news |last=Meighan |first=Craig |date=16 March 2023 |title=SNP reveals huge membership losses as 30,000 people leave party |work=STV News |url=https://news.stv.tv/politics/snp-reveals-huge-membership-losses-after-demands-from-humza-yousaf-kate-forbes-and-ash-regan}} 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".{{Cite news |date=17 March 2023 |title=SNP media chief Murray Foote resigns over membership dispute |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-64993032}}
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.{{Cite news |date=18 March 2023 |title=Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell quits as SNP chief executive in face of no confidence threat |work=Sky News |url=https://news.sky.com/story/snp-chief-executive-peter-murrell-resigns-12836882 |access-date=18 March 2023}} 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.{{Cite news |last=Sanderson |first=Daniel |date=18 March 2023 |title=Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell resigns as SNP chief executive |work=The Telegraph |url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/politics/2023/03/18/nicola-sturgeons-husband-peter-murrell-resigns-snp-chief-executive/ |access-date=18 March 2023}}
= 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.{{Cite news |date=6 April 2023 |title=What happens next in the Peter Murrell case? |language=en-GB |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-65202843 |access-date=7 April 2023}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Carrell |first=Severin |date=5 April 2023 |title=Nicola Sturgeon's husband, Peter Murrell, arrested in SNP funding inquiry |url=https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2023/apr/05/peter-murrell-nicola-sturgeons-husband-arrested-over-snp-funding-investigation |access-date=5 April 2023 |website=The Guardian}}{{Cite web |date=5 April 2023 |title=Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell arrested in SNP finance probe |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-65187823/ |website=BBC News}} He was later released without charge, pending further investigation.{{Cite press release |title=Investigation into Scottish National Party funding and finances – update |date=5 April 2023 |publisher=Police Scotland |url=https://www.scotland.police.uk/what-s-happening/news/2023/april/investigation-into-scottish-national-party-funding-and-finances-update/ |access-date=5 April 2023 |author=}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Walker |first=David |date=9 April 2023 |title=Police reportedly seize £110k luxury motorhome from home of Peter Murrell's mum |url=https://www.scottishdailyexpress.co.uk/news/politics/police-reportedly-seize-110k-luxury-29665333 |access-date=11 April 2023 |website=scottishdailyexpress |language=en}}
On 18 April 2024, Murrell was re-arrested in connection with the investigation.{{Cite news |date=18 April 2024 |title=Peter Murrell re-arrested in SNP investigation |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-68850088 |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}} Later that day, Murrell was formally charged with embezzlement of funds from the SNP.{{Cite news |date=18 April 2024 |title=Peter Murrell charged with embezzlement in SNP finance probe |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-68850088 |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
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.{{cite news |url=https://www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/peter-murrell-nicola-sturgeon-police-scotland-edinburgh-police-b1217895.html |title=Ex-SNP chief executive in court as Nicola Sturgeon probe dropped |newspaper=Evening Standard |date=20 March 2025}}
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{{clarify|date=April 2023}} in 2003 and were married in July 2010 in Glasgow at Òran Mór.{{Cite news |date=16 July 2010 |title=Nicola Sturgeon ties the knot — but she won't be calling herself Mrs Murrell |work=The Scotsman |url=https://www.scotsman.com/news/nicola-sturgeon-ties-knot-she-wont-be-calling-herself-mrs-murrell-2442260 |access-date=3 February 2019}}{{Cite news |date=16 July 2010 |title=Wedding for SNP's Nicola Sturgeon |work=BBC News |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-glasgow-west-10652420 |access-date=4 February 2019}}
On 13 January 2025, Sturgeon announced in a post on Instagram that she and Murrell had separated and are to divorce.{{cite website|url=https://news.sky.com/story/scotlands-former-first-minister-nicola-sturgeon-splits-from-husband-13288096 |title= Scotland's former first minister Nicola Sturgeon splits from husband. |work=Sky News |access-date=13 January 2025}}{{Cite news |date=13 January 2025 |title=Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell to end marriage |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/cvgpl37lez7o |access-date=13 January 2025 |work=BBC News |language=en-GB}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons-inline}}
{{Nicola Sturgeon}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Murrell, Peter}}
Category:Politicians from Edinburgh
Category:Scottish public relations people
Category:Scottish National Party politicians
Category:Spouses of British politicians
Category:Alumni of the University of Glasgow
Category:20th-century Scottish politicians
Category:21st-century Scottish politicians
Category:Date of birth missing (living people)