Peter Muir sentenced to five years for SNP embezzlement

Former SNP chief executive Peter Muir, the ex‑husband of former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon, was convicted of embezzling more than £400,000 from the party’s funds. The Edinburgh High Court sentenced him to five years and three months in prison, noting the breach of trust and the need for a deterrent penalty.

Muir admitted diverting money between 2010 and 2023 to purchase luxury items, including cars, a motorhome, watches and high‑end cosmetics. The case emerged after a lengthy police investigation that followed Sturgeon’s sudden resignation as Scotland’s first minister in February 2023. Sturgeon, who was questioned but not charged, said she had no knowledge of the misuse of party resources and expressed anger and disappointment at the impact on her family and the SNP.

The scandal is a major political blow to the Scottish National Party, which has dominated Scottish politics for two decades and campaigns for independence. It has intensified scrutiny of the party’s financial management and revived debate over its leadership and future direction.