Operation Branchform: Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell banned from selling property

The inhibition means Peter Murrell is banned from selling property or taking out loans on any homes.

Nicola Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell has been banned from selling any property he owns.

This ban was put in place in June last year, it has emerged, after Mr Murrell was charged with embezzlement as part of Operation Branchform, the police investigation into SNP finances.

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The restriction is known as an “inhibition”, and is registered in the name of Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC. The BBC has reported this order has come directly from the Court of Session.

Nicola Sturgeon and Peter MurrellNicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell
Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell | Andy Buchanan/Getty Images

The inhibition was uncovered by the Daily Record through the register of inhibitions.

This register notifies the public about individuals who cannot “competently enter into voluntary property transactions”, effectively banning an individual or company from selling property or taking out loans on it.

It lists Mr Murrell as living in the home he shared with Ms Sturgeon in Uddingston.

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Last week Ms Sturgeon announced she and Mr Murrell were separating. The pair had been married since 2010.

It is understood Ms Sturgeon is now living in Edinburgh.

A spokesperson for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service said it would not be appropriate to comment in detail about the investigation. But the spokesperson added: “Court actions must be registered in the name of the Lord Advocate and that reflects a constitutional position and not a personal involvement.

“The investigation into SNP finances is being handled by professional prosecutors from the Crown Office and independent counsel without the involvement of the lord advocate or solicitor general.”

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Ms Bain is a member of the Scottish Government and has no role in the police investigation.

Operation Branchform is investigating what has happened to £600,000 of donations to the SNP, which were supposed to be earmarked for independence campaigning.

Both Ms Sturgeon and former party treasurer Colin Beattie MSP were arrested in 2023, but were later released without charge.

Mr Murrell had resigned as the SNP’s chief executive after a row over party membership numbers and was then charged with embezzlement in April last year.

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Ms Sturgeon last month said she had no control over the investigation and had learned nothing more about it since being arrested.

Police Scotland has spent around £2 million on Operation Branchform and 11 police officers are working on the investigation.

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