Former Chief Executive Officer of the Scottish National Party
Peter Tierney Murrell (born 8 December 1964) is a former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP). He is married to Nicola Sturgeon, the former leader of the SNP and First Minister of Scotland.
Career
Early political career
Before entering politics, Peter Murrell was for a public relations Officer for the Church of Scotland for four years.[1] In 1989 Murrell was elected Membership Convener by the SNP Peterhead branch.[2] 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.[3] In June 1993 Murrell was re-appointed secretary of the Banff and Buchan branch of Citizens Advice.[4] 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".[5] In February 1995, Murrell was working as a Parliamentary Assistant to Dr Allan Macartney MEP based in Aberdeen.[6] The Evening Express stated that he had been "previously responsible for MP Alex Salmond's Banff Buchan office".[7] In December 1996 Murrell's reported role was "constituency researcher".[8] During his time working for the SNP, Murrell acted as its fishing spokesperson.[9]
By February 1999 he was working as a staff member in the new office of MEP Ian Hudgton in Aberdeen along with Dr Eilidh Whiteford. He was described as "a former assistant to both[10] SNP leader Alex Salmond and the late Allan Macartney".[11] In March 1999 Murrell was quoted in the Aberdeen Press and Journal as "SNP Fisheries Spokesman" who supported controls on the number of grey seals.[12]
SNP Chief Executive
Murrell replaced Michael Russell as chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in 2001, under the leadership of John Swinney.[13][14] He had previously worked in the Banff and Buchan constituency office of Alex Salmond, the former party leader.[15] The party's success in the 2007 elections was credited to organisation by Murrell.[16][17]
In January 2019 Kenny MacAskill, former SNP Justice Secretary suggested Murrell should resign.[15]
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.[18][19]
Murrell is facing questions from party members over the alleged disappearance of £600,000 in donations to the party. Police in Scotland are currently investigating an allegation of fraud about the missing £600,000.[20] 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.[21][22]
Murrell has also faced questions from the Scottish Labour and Conservative parties 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.[23][24]
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."[25]
Dispute over membership numbers and resignation
During the 2023 leadership election, the SNP was pressed to reveal the size of its membership.[26] The party’s national executive committee published the figure of 72,186 as of 15 February 2023, down from 104,000 members in 2021.[27] 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".[28] 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.[29] 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."[30]
Police investigation
On 5 April 2023, Murrell was arrested by police in connection with Operation Branchform, an investigation into Scottish National Party finances.[31][32] 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.[31][33] He was later released without charge, pending further investigation.[34] In relation to Operation Branchform, a Niesmann + Bischoff motorhome was seized by police from Murrell's mother's home near Dunfermline.[35]
Personal life
Peter Tierney Murrell was born in Edinburgh in 1964.[36][37] He studied at Craigmount High School and later at the University of Glasgow.[38][39] While running Alex Salmond's Banff and Buchan constituency office he helped to organise SNP youth weekends. He first met 18-year-old Nicola Sturgeon at one of these events in 1988.[1] Sturgeon and Murrell became a couple[clarification needed] in 2003[15] and were married in July 2010 in Glasgow at Òran Mór.[40][41]
