Peter Murrell jailed for embezzlement as police probe missing £1.5m from Yes Scotland

Former Scottish National Party chief executive Peter Murrell was sentenced to more than five years in prison for embezzling around £400,000 from the SNP. He told a solicitor he will not appeal the sentence and is being held at HMP Dumfries, saying he is "doing okay". The court noted that Murrell used party funds to purchase luxury items, a motorhome, and everyday goods, describing the conduct as a "calculated act of dishonesty" and stressing the need for a deterrent.

At the same time, Police Scotland opened an inquiry into the accounts of Yes Scotland, the pro‑independence campaign that raised £1.5 million during the 2014 referendum. Former SNP branch secretary David Henry is expected to give detectives evidence suggesting the money "just went" after the accounts showed a zero balance from 2016 onward. The SNP maintains that Yes Scotland is a separate legal entity and that Murrell had no access to its bank accounts. The investigation follows allegations that the SNP previously bailed out the campaign with £825,000.