By David Bol
Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell is poised to have his legal costs covered by taxpayers after being charged with embezzlement. Mr Murrell, the husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, 鈥渕et the tests鈥 for an application of legal aid to be approved. The 60-year-old was chief executive 9of the SNP for more than 20 years before quitting in 2023. He was later arrested during Operation Branchform – the police investigation into the party’s finances – before being released without charge. Mr Murrell, who has separated from Ms Sturgeon, was then charged with embezzlement and appeared in court in March. Ms Sturgeon has been cleared of any wrongdoing. READ MORE: Operation Branchform: What we know about the police investigation into SNP finances as Nicola Sturgeon cleared The Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) has confirmed an application for solemn legal aid by Mr Murrell鈥檚 solicitors was approved on April 30 and no payments have been made so far. A spokesperson for the SLAB told the Daily Record: 鈥淲hen assessing an applicant鈥檚 eligibility for legal aid, we look at their financial position at the time of their application to ensure they meet tests set by legal aid legislation. 鈥淭his includes information they give us about their salary, the amount of money they have in the bank and any investments, which might be available to fund their own defence privately. READ MORE: Nicola Sturgeon’s ‘vindication’ after being cleared in probe as John Swinney says SNP in ‘clearer position’ 鈥淧eter Murrell鈥檚 application met the tests we have to apply when deciding whether to grant legal aid.鈥 Mr Murrell鈥檚 final SNP salary has not been published, but the party鈥檚 2023 accounts showed his successor, Murray Foote, started on 拢95,000. Mr Murrell appeared at a private petition hearing at Edinburgh Sheriff Court in March, making no plea or declaration and was committed for further examination and bailed. There are no dates set for a future hearing. Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: 鈥淭axpayers will be scratching their heads at why they should have to foot the bill for Peter Murrell – a man who has been charged with embezzlement. 鈥淚t is also particularly galling that Peter Murrell will be receiving legal aid after the SNP Government has repeatedly ignored warnings about the financial pressures raised by lawyers.” Scottish politics has never been more important – get The Steamie newsletter today Scottish Conservative MSP Liam Kerr said: 鈥淚t will stick in the throats of hard-pressed Scots that they鈥檙e picking up the tab for this disgraced former SNP chief executive, especially at a time when his party has squeezed the legal aid budget.鈥 Ms Sturgeon said in March she felt 鈥渧indicated鈥 and 鈥渞elieved鈥 to be cleared in the police investigation into the SNP鈥檚 finances. The former SNP leader said there was 鈥渘ever a scrap of evidence that I had done anything wrong鈥, after Police Scotland confirmed that she and ex-SNP treasurer Colin Beattie were no longer under Operation Branchform investigation. 鈥淚 was confident of reaching this point and getting to this outcome, but there is relief to have that confirmed,鈥 she said at the time.