Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell allegedly used embezzled party funds to bid £4,000 for his wife's donated shoes during a 2015 Glasgow gala. This revelation, detailed in recent reports, adds a layer of personal extravagance to the ongoing investigation into the Scottish National Party's finances.

The £4,000 bid for Kurt Geiger snakeskin heels

The 2015 St Andrew's Day gala in Glasgow became a site of unexpected scandal when Peter Murrell, then the SNP chief executive, spent £4,000 on a pair of Kurt Geiger green snakeskin heels. According to the report, these shoes—which Nicola Sturgeon later wore during a meeting with then-Prime Minister Theresa May—were originally donated by Sturgeon herself. The auction, which saw the bidding jump from £1,500 to the final £4,000 mark, has become a symbol of the financial mismanagement currently under investigation by police.

Attendees at the event reportedly expressed astonishment at the price paid for the footwear, with one witness noting that the extravagance raised immediate suspicions about the source of the funds. The shoes were displayed in a bespoke case, highlighting the high-end nature of the items being circulated within the party's fundraising circles.

From Shetland jewelry to fine wine: Murrell's "man with the money" persona

This incident appears to be part of a brroader pattern of behavior involving the misuse of Scottish National Party funds for personal or performative purposes. A senior SNP source noted that Murrell frequently engaged in the practice of buying back items that he or Sturgeon had donated, including collections of fine wines. This behavior has led critics, including Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, to question the sincerity of such donations.

Beyond the Glasgow auction, Murrell's alleged financial arrogance was noted in other settings,such as a 2019 visit to a jewelry shop in Shetland. During that trip, while accompanying the First Minister, Murrell reportedly told the shop owner, "I'm the man with the money," a comment that has since been viewed through the lens of his admitted embezzlement of over £400,000.

The unregistered £100,000 loan and Electoral Commission breaches

The financial irregularities also extended to a £100,000 loan provided to the SNP in 2021 during a period of acute cash flow instability. As reported, this loan was not registered for 18 months, which constitutes a direct breach of Electoral Commission rules. The SNP was in the process of repaying this sum when Operation Branchform, the police investigation into Murrell's conduct, was launched.

This specific failure to disclose the loan highlights the lack of transparency that has come to define the party's recent financial history, moving the scandal from simple theft to institutional negligence. The delay in registration suggests a systemic breakdown in the party's internal accounting and compliance protocols.

The question of Nicola Sturgeon's knowledge of the spending

As Murrell awaits his sentencing on June 23,several critical questions remain regarding the level of involvement of other high-ranking officials. Specifically , it is unclear whether Nicola Sturgeon was aware that the funds used for Murrell's luxury purchases, including shoe valet cases, were embezzled. While the Westminster-based Scottish Affairs Committee is considering launching its own probe into the matter, the SNP and the Scottish Greens have successfully blocked parliamentary inquiries within Holyrood.

This political maneuvering has left many wondering if the full extent of the financial mismanagement will ever be officially documented by Scottish lawmakers. The refusal to allow a Holyrood inquiry continues to fuel speculation regarding the degree of oversight—or lack thereof—within the party's highest echelons.