Legal aid withdrawn from former SNP chief executive after financial disclosures emerge

The Scottish Legal Aid Board announced it will no longer fund legal representation for Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the Scottish National Party, after a review of his financial situation. Murrell, 61, was convicted in June for stealing more than £400,000 from the party and sentenced to five years in prison. Investigations uncovered that he owned a share in a Portuguese villa sold for up to £500,000, held two pension schemes valued at roughly £613,000, and retained an £83,000 stake in his former marital home.

Despite initially receiving £4,831 in legal aid, the board withdrew support on July 28, citing compliance with legal and data-protection rules. The board may seek repayment of the aid already disbursed, though it did not confirm this. A scheduled High Court hearing to recover the embezzled funds was adjourned to December 7 at the request of both parties.