Sturgeon looked 'broken' in Murrell interview, says Yousaf

Former first minister Humza Yousaf said Nicola Sturgeon looked like a "broken woman" during a BBC interview on her estranged husband embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP.

Yousaf, who succeeded Sturgeon as leader of the party, told Newsnight he knew his predecessor as a "person of great integrity" and said he believes she was unaware of Peter Murrell's crimes.

Murrell, the SNP's former chief executive, pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh to stealing money from the party between 2010 and 2022.

Sturgeon has consistently denied knowledge of the embezzlement and was not charged after a police investigation.

In an interview with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg, Sturgeon said she had been "betrayed" by Murrell and "would not apologise for his crimes".

She said: "I feel like I am serving a sentence for a crime I did not commit".

A clip of the interview was played while Yousaf was appearing on Newsnight as a pundit on Friday evening.

Yousaf had just become first minister when Sturgeon and Murrell's home and the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh were raided in 2023 as part of Operation Branchform – the name given to the Police Scotland probe into SNP finances.

He told the programme he was "utterly gobsmacked" and "livid" upon hearing news of the investigation.

But he said he remained "in the percentage of people" who believed Sturgeon was in the dark about the embezzlement.

Yousaf said: "I have a bias, I know Nicola, I've spent a lot of time with her over the years, been appointed to various government roles by Nicola.

"I believe Nicola. I know the person, I believe Nicola to be a person of great integrity.

"During that interview, I thought I saw quite a broken woman. I thought I saw someone who was really suffering as a result of what has happened and the huge betrayal."

He added: "I certainly am in that percentage that believe her, but I can understand people's scepticism. I mean, I'm not surprised by it."

Murrell's spending included £125,000 on a motorhome, which was driven just four miles and parked on his mother's drive until it was seized by police.

He also bought a range of domestic items including Lalique salt and pepper grinders worth more than £2,600, a range of high-end coffee machines and several games consoles.

During a court hearing on Tuesday, his lawyer said he would be able to pay the money back.

Yousaf said the issue was consistently raised "on the doorstep" when he spoke to voters in the aftermath.

He admitted his leadership "never recovered" from the episode.

Yousaf resigned as first minister in April 2024, about 13 months after winning the leadership contest.

He said he did not question the spending at the time, noting he was serving as health secretary during the Covid pandemic for part of the period.

He said his successor, John Swinney, was the right man to lead the SNP through the current period.

Swinney has repeatedly denied the need for a public inquiry, describing the police investigation as sufficient.

However he told MSPs on Thursday that the SNP may have claimed back tax on Murrell's illicit purchases.

The SNP leader said his party had written to HMRC over the matter.

Yousaf said Murrell's stigma continues to follow the party.

He said: "It was a very difficult time for the party, it kept coming up on the doorstep.

"I think the party is still finding it very difficult."