Exclusive:Peter Murrell among fewer than 1% of claimants to have legal aid cancelled
New figures illustrate how unusual it is to have - as in Peter Murrell’s case - legal aid stopped
Fewer than one per cent of legal aid claimants had their support stopped in the past year.
The Scotsman exclusively told this week that Peter Murrell is no longer receiving public money to fund his criminal defence.
New figures show there were fewer than 30 of nearly 100,000 claims where the Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) has ceased funding.
The former SNP chief executive and estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon was jailed in June for five years for embezzlement.
He pleaded guilty to having stolen more than £400,000 from his party, using the cash to fund a lavish spending spree over 12 years.
In April last year his application for financial support from the public purse was granted.
However, questions had been raised about the use of taxpayers’ money to fund his legal defence after details of his finances emerged.
The SLAB has now released figures to The Scotsman for the period 2025/26 when Murrell’s legal aid was granted and stopped.
In that time, 99,265 applications for legal aid were granted and 29 were withdrawn - less than 0.03 per cent.
Some 1,307 applications were refused where the tests for aid were not met.
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Joanna Cherry, a KC and former SNP MP, said she hopes a probe will be carried out into the circumstances surrounding Murrell’s successful request.
“I trust enquiries will now be made into whether a false statement was made to the Scottish legal aid board as that would be a criminal offence,” she said.
The SLAB would not be drawn on whether attempts would be made to recoup money paid out.
Asked in how many cases a return of money paid out has been pursued, a spokesman said SLAB does not hold that figure.
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Legal aid is means tested and it is understood that the majority of people who apply for support do not have resources of capital available to them and are often on benefits.
In criminal cases, some legal aid is granted by SLAB, some by solicitors and some by the courts.
Scottish Conservative justice spokesman Stephen Kerr said: "It was utterly obscene that crooked Peter Murrell was ever considered for legal aid in the first place.
“Scotland’s legal aid system is broken due to years of SNP failure to reform it, and many people are missing out through no fault of their own.
“The fact that reversal of such decisions is extremely rare shows that the Scottish Legal Aid Board finally recognised that this affluent offender shouldn’t be in receipt of another penny of taxpayers’ money.”
A spokesman for the SLAB said the organisation is bound by legal restrictions in what it can disclose.
However, he added: “We can confirm the individual is no longer in receipt of legal aid.”
Legal applications are processed using an assessment of salary, money in bank accounts and investments.
Murrell, 61. and his solicitor were informed on July 28 that legal aid was being terminated.
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He had used money stolen from the SNP to buy a vast range of goods from the famous motorhome and cars to highend kitchenware and luxury toiletries.
In July last year news of his successful legal aid claim became public for the first time.
It then emerged in October 2025 that Murrell had a part-share in a villa in Portugal, which had been sold six months after his legal aid claim was granted.
The sale was believed to generate between £350,000 and £500,000.
At the time, SLAB said Murrell still met the relevant legal tests to be entitled to financial support.
Around the time of his sentencing hearing in May, proceeds-of-crime proceedings revealed Murrell had two pension pots worth around £613,000.
His share in the former marital home was valued at about £83,000.
Murrell's lawyer also told the court his client would be capable of repaying the £400,000 he embezzled from his personal funds.
It then emerged in the SNP accounts in June that Murrell is still owed £60,000 from the party.
His funding was stopped in July.
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