Nicola Sturgeon has expressed feelings of betrayal and shock following her estranged husband Peter Murrell’s guilty plea to embezzling more than £400,000 from the Scottish National Party (SNP). In a candid interview at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the former First Minister said she was unaware Murrell had been negotiating a guilty plea with prosecutors since March until shortly before he appeared in court.

Murrell admitted to stealing funds from the party over a ten-year period and was sentenced to five years in prison. Sturgeon described the process of coming to terms with the revelations as deeply painful, emphasizing that she continued to learn details about Murrell’s actions even on the day he entered his plea. “I suddenly realised I had been living with somebody that I never really knew properly,” she said, acknowledging the personal and familial challenges posed by the situation.

The former SNP leader stated that she felt misled by Murrell, who, she alleged, had not been forthcoming with her about his dealings throughout their relationship. She noted that while she had been preparing for a possible trial that might have occurred months later, she instead found out less than a week before Murrell’s guilty plea that his legal negotiations had been underway for several months. This timing left her with little opportunity to anticipate or process the implications.

Asked whether she still cared about Murrell, Sturgeon said her feelings were complicated by the circumstances and the secrecy surrounding his plea. She reflected on the emotional toll, stating that some days the matter weighed heavily on her, while at other times it receded somewhat, though she expects the impact to endure.

Beyond the personal fallout, Sturgeon addressed political questions, dismissing speculation about a potential shift to the Green Party despite acknowledging the growing appeal of the Greens among younger voters. She warned the SNP to remain attentive to this trend but reiterated her commitment to the party.

Sturgeon also commented on public disputes involving prominent figures, responding to criticism from author J.K. Rowling. She described Rowling as being "obsessed" with her, referencing the author’s accusations of misogyny and disloyalty. Additionally, she criticized a memoir by a former SNP MP, calling it “s***,” signaling her continued resolve in the face of internal party tensions.

The interview sheds light on Sturgeon’s personal and political struggles amid a high-profile scandal that continues to reverberate through Scotland’s political landscape.