Nicola Sturgeon has stated she feels she is "serving a sentence for a crime I did not commit" following her estranged husband's embezzlement of £400,000 from the Scottish National Party (SNP).

In an exclusive interview with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg, Scotland's former first minister expressed her refusal to apologize for the scandal involving Peter Murrell, the party's former chief executive. Murrell admitted to embezzling party funds between 2010 and 2022.

Sturgeon, who led the SNP from 2014 to 2023, shared her emotional struggle while recalling gifts from Murrell that were later revealed to have been bought with stolen money. She maintained her innocence, stating she was not responsible for her former husband's actions and would not apologize for them.

The former first minister emphasized her belief in accountability for her own decisions but drew a line at accepting blame for another person's crimes. She highlighted the broader issue of women being unfairly blamed for the actions of men in their lives, a sentiment she does not want to contribute to.

Despite her leadership role, during which she shared responsibility for monitoring the party's accounts, Sturgeon denied any knowledge of Murrell's criminal activities. A police investigation into the matter did not result in any charges against her.

Sturgeon described a sense of "bewilderment" upon discovering that personal gifts, such as a necklace, were purchased using embezzled funds. She stated that Murrell "perpetrated a crime on the SNP," which by definition included her as party leader, and that he "misled" and "deceived."

She echoed her earlier statements made at a literary festival, where she revealed feeling deceived, betrayed, and lied to by her husband. Murrell's embezzlement involved using party funds for personal purchases, including luxury items and jewelry.

Sturgeon's comments underscore the personal and political fallout from the scandal, as she navigates the aftermath of her husband's admitted crimes while maintaining her own integrity and leadership responsibilities during the period in question.