The 9 most extravagant gifts Nicola Sturgeon’s ex-husband bought with stolen SNP funds

Peter Murrell — the longtime former chief executive of the Scottish National Party — admitted Monday that he embezzled £400,000 from the party.

The ex-husband of former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon made hundreds of personal purchases with party funds between 2010 and 2022, falsely recording them in SNP accounts.

A 126-page indictment lists some of the luxury items purchased by Murrell, who was SNP chief between 2001 to 2023.

In a statement Monday, Sturgeon said she’d had “no knowledge or suspicion whatsoever that [Murrell] was using SNP funds for personal purposes.” A criminal inquiry cleared Sturgeon in March; in January 2025 she announced she was divorcing the disgraced former party official.

Both resigned from their positions in the SNP before Murrell’s arrest in April 2023.

Here are nine of Murrell’s most lavish purchases with the embezzled loot.

The motorhome

The single largest purchase Murrell made was a £124,550 luxury camper van, bought in 2020. It was dramatically seized from outside his mother’s house when he was arrested in 2023, becoming a symbol of the scandal.

Murrell seemingly had a penchant for the swanky cookery brand Le Creuset. | Francois Lo Presti/AFP vie Getty Images

Salt and pepper grinders

Murrell invested in high-end salt and pepper grinders from French glassmaker Lalique in January 2020, costing £2,618.16. The year before he spent £526.03 on salt and pepper mills from Peugeot Saveurs, which markets itself as the “essential benchmark for gourmets and great chefs alike.” Not exactly a salt-of-the-earth kinda guy.

Gaming

During his 10-year spending spree, Murrell bought a variety of game consoles and video games despite having no children. Purchases include £42.99 for the game Grand Theft Auto V, £297.14 for an Xbox console and nearly £400 on three Nintendo 3DS consoles.

A silver wine coaster

Murrell splurged £3,500 on a silver wine coaster from luxury Scottish brand Hamilton & Inches in 2018.

Luxury pens … and a pencil sharpener too

Murrell clearly appreciated top-of-the-range writing utensils, spending thousands of pounds on fancy Montblanc pens. He splashed out on a Starwalker fountain pen costing £4,225 in 2017, a Meisterstück pen in 2016 for £2,125, and another rollerball pen costing him £2,370. Murrell also bought a £110 pencil sharpener in 2018.

Murrell clearly appreciated top-of-the-range writing utensils, spending thousands of pounds on fancy Montblanc pens. | Richard Blanshard/Getty Images

The onesie

The ex-SNP chief seemingly valued his comfort. Murrell spent £75 of party funds on a “Men’s Slouch Pouch Onesie” in 2012.

‘Delicious’ Portuguese olive oil

Murrell slipped through two bottles of “Delicious Portuguese extra Virgin Olive Oil” on the party’s dime.

Le Creuset

Murrell seemingly had a penchant for the swanky cookery brand Le Creuset. He made 36 purchases from the company, including three casserole dishes for £784, a £224 crockpot and dozens of mugs.

Coffee machines and tea sets

Murrell appears to be a fan of hot drinks. He bought a £3,232 Jura GIGA 5 coffee machine in 2016, a £1,866 Jura machine in 2017 and a £2,595 Jura machine in 2018. He also acquired a Smythson tea set for £2,995 in 2021.