Who is Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell?

PETER Murrell is the husband of Scotland's First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.

Here's more details about the Scottish National Party's chief exec.

Who is Peter Murrell?

Nicola Sturgeon is married to Peter Murrell, 56, who is the chief executive of the Scottish National Party.

They met when Sturgeon was 18 at a Young Scottish Nationalists gathering in Aberdeenshire.

She revealed she had suffered a miscarriage in 2011 when she was 40, but kept it private to avoid being defined by the tragedy.

Sturgeon admitted in a book she does not know if she could have “had it all” – and led Scotland’s devolved government as a mum.

She said: “If the miscarriage hasn’t happened, would I be sitting here as First Minister right now?

"It’s unanswerable.”

Murrell has been CEO of the SNP since 1999.

He took over the position from Michael Russell.

Before taking the post he had worked in the Banff and Buchan constituency office of previous First Minister Alex Salmond – it's through this role that he met Sturgeon.

When did he marry Nicola Sturgeon?

Murrell and Sturgeon began a relationship in 2003 and married in 2010. They have no children.

They married at a ceremony in Glasgow.

He's previously come under scrutiny for his back-seat role in politics, which places him high up in the SNP's pecking order.

Critics say that a husband and wife topping the party's hierarchy is unfair.

When elected unopposed to become First Minister and the SNP's leader in 2014, a defensive Sturgeon told the Scottish Herald: “I’ve been deputy leader for years while Peter’s been chief executive for 10 years.

"That’s not been an issue that’s given rise to any concern internally.

“In the constitution of the SNP, the oversight of the administrative side of the party lies with the business convener, not with the leader.

"So I’m comfortable there are no issues that arise.”

LATEST ON STURGEON

COVER UP

Masks could be enforced in Scotland for YEARS, Nicola Sturgeon warns

FANS BACK

Nicola Sturgeon confirms capacity crowds CAN return to Scottish football

GREAT SCOT

Scots may have to carry on wearing face masks for years, Nicola Sturgeon warns

BORDER FORCE

Scotland's top football clubs may move games to ENGLAND over fan Covid rules

What does he do in his role as Chief Executive Officer of the SNP?

Although Murrell works in politics, his job is more of a backroom role – however this has been overshadowed by his marriage to one of the most high-profile politicians in the UK.

He has been described as "the most powerful SNP figure outside of the Holyrood and Westminster parliaments" by The Herald.

Murrell is in charge of the SNP's HQ and heads day-to-day running of Scotland's governing party.

He came under fire for the loss of 21 SNP's seats in the 2017 General election, and also for his undisclosed salary, which has been estimated as totalling upwards of £100,000, The Scotsman reported.

 

    Source: Read Full Article

    Previous post Boris Johnson enlists Royal Navy to stop Channel migrants as he launches 'Operation Red Meat' in bid to stay in No10
    Next post Passenger lets her toddler graffiti all over the tray tables – and even guides his hand