Overview

• Peter Murrell, former SNP chief executive and estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon, has been charged with embezzlement in connection to the party's finances.
• Murrell appeared at a private hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court, made no plea or declaration, and was bailed for further examination.
• Police Scotland confirmed that Nicola Sturgeon and Colin Beattie are no longer under investigation following direction from prosecutors.
• Operation Branchform, the long-running investigation into SNP finances, has cost taxpayers over £2.3 million as of early 2025.
• The financial scandal has raised concerns about the SNP's ability to fundraise and campaign effectively for the 2026 Scottish election.