Peter Murrell resigns SNP membership following embezzlement charge

THE former chief executive of the SNP, Peter Murrell, has resigned his membership of the party after being charged with embezzlement.

On Thursday morning Murrell was once again arrested as part of Police Scotland's investigation into the SNP's use of £600,000 of donations made to the party for independence campaigning.

He was first arrested and released without charge pending further investigation last April alongside his wife Nicola Sturgeon and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie.

READ MORE: Former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell charged with embezzlement

However, on Thursday evening Police Scotland released a statement confirming that Murrell had been charged with embezzlement.

Shortly after the news broke the SNP released a statement.

An SNP spokesperson said: “While this development will come as a shock, the police investigation remains ongoing and it would, therefore, be inappropriate to make any comment."

The party added that Murrell had resigned his SNP membership.