Murrell, the estranged husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday. Between August 2010 and October 2022, he used the funds to buy items including luxury goods and a motorhome, and towards the purchase of two cars. A top police officer said Murrell, 61, diverted the cash from the SNP to "bankroll the lavish lifestyle he craved but could not afford". The motorhome, video games and toilet seats: The downfall of Murrell In an Instagram story, Ms Sturgeon posted: "My reaction to the guilty plea tendered today by my former husband is difficult to put into words. "I am angry, hurt, sad and very distressed about the impact of his actions on family, friends and the SNP. "To be deceived and let down by a husband I loved and trusted has caused me acute pain. Why he acted as he did is, and always will be, beyond my comprehension. "To be clear: I had no knowledge or suspicion whatsoever that he was using SNP funds for personal purposes. "I am utterly appalled that he did so and cannot begin to understand why. That I was fully cleared after a thorough investigation underlines that these are not my crimes. I was misled just as others were. "I know that there will be political discussion in light of what has happened, and I understand why. "However, for me this has also been a profound personal trauma. I need to remain focused on recovering from that and building a new phase of life. I will be making no further comment." Murrell was first arrested in April 2023 as part of Operation Branchform - a Police Scotland probe into the funding and finances of the SNP - and was charged with embezzlement one year later. Judge Lord Young told the once political party kingpin: "You have pleaded guilty to a charge of embezzlement over a period of 12 years. "You embezzled just over £400,000 from the Scottish National Party. "As the chief executive officer of that organisation throughout that period your actions constitute a gross breach of trust." Murrell was handcuffed in the dock and remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing on 23 June. He originally faced an embezzlement charge amounting to £459,046.49, but pleaded guilty to an amended indictment. A full narrative of the facts will be heard in court when the case calls again on 2 June. Following Monday's hearing, the court published 125 pages of documents detailing the charge against Murrell. It included using £16,489 of SNP money in 2016 in part payment for a £32,989 Volkswagen Golf. He then used £57,500 of party funds towards the purchase of an £81,277 Jaguar I-PACE car in 2019. Murrell then falsified an invoice "in an attempt to disguise the true nature of said purchase", and when the motor was sold in 2021 to We Buy Any Car, £47,378.76 was paid into his personal bank account. In 2020, he then used £124,550 of SNP funds to buy a Niesmann and Bischoff Smove 7.4E motorhome for his "own personal use". The indictment also includes dozens of retailers where Murrell made purchases totalling £139,971. These purchases were made using credit cards or charge cards belonging to the SNP, with "false or inaccurate accounting codes and descriptions" for the items inserted into the party's accounting system. Goods purchased over the years included a PlayStation 3 for £247.42; games for multiple different consoles including Grand Theft Auto V (£42.99), The Sims 3: Pets (£31.82) and Battlefield 4 (£34.69); and two Bremont watches amounting to £9,350.25. He also spent £4,225 on a Starwalker World Time fountain pen; £68.82 on two Ideal Standard toilet seats; and £3,231.90 on a Jura Giga 5 Cromo coffee machine. Other purchases included a Celestron 11069 NexStar 8SE computerised Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope (£1,199); two pairs of Fit Nation socks (£11.95); a Fortnum & Mason musical advent calendar (£150); a Beatles special edition fountain pen and rollerball (£1,475); and a copy of the book Women Hold Up Half the Sky: Selected Speeches of Nicola Sturgeon (£22.04). SNP leader and First Minister John Swinney said the "level of personal horror" he felt over Murrell's crimes was "difficult for me to properly convey". He described it as a "tough day" for the party and "an overwhelming betrayal", adding: "I am gutted by this today." His comments came as he apologised to those affected by Murrell's "whole scale deception", acknowledging the SNP had been "badly, badly, badly let down" by its former chief executive. He said: "What I am thinking about, I've not been able to stop thinking about, is the decent people who have stood with me at coffee mornings and jumble sales, raising the money, paying their money to party headquarters. "People who I know don't have much money to rub together, but have paid their membership subs to keep the SNP afloat because they believe in independence." Mr Swinney said Murrel "should have known this was the wrong thing to do". The first minister added: "By embezzling from the SNP, Peter Murrell was stealing the hopes, the dreams, and the aspirations of thousands of people all over Scotland, people who gave what they could over many years in the hope that it would help contribute to a better country. "So, today I am horrified, I am betrayed." Murrell, who had been SNP chief executive for more than 20 years, resigned in March 2023 amid a row over party membership numbers. Ms Sturgeon and ex-party treasurer MSP Colin Beattie were also arrested as part of Operation Branchform, but both were later cleared of any wrongdoing by Police Scotland. Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston, who had oversight of Operation Branchform, said: "This was a lengthy and extremely complex case due to the scale of criminality over a 12-year period and the lengths Peter Murrell went to try and cover his tracks. "I commend the professionalism and absolute dedication of the Operation Branchform team who spent more than four years carrying out extensive enquiries across Europe to unpick Murrell's offending." ACC Houston said the investigative work, in close partnership with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), was carried out "under the most intense public scrutiny". He added: "This is without doubt one of the most high-profile investigations in recent times and it is testimony to the work of Police Scotland officers and staff that has led to Peter Murrell's admission of guilt early in the court process. "I would also like to thank the many witnesses who came forward to provide us with statements as we built the case against Peter Murrell. Their engagement with us was vital. "Peter Murrell has shown utter contempt for the high public trust placed in him as the chief executive of a political party and his position in the wider political establishment in Scotland for many years. "He abused his privileged position with access to Scottish National Party funds to divert cash into his own accounts and bankroll the lavish lifestyle he craved but could not afford. "From 2010 to 2022 he spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on luxury goods while carefully trying to hide his criminality with false receipts and accounting. "He must now face the consequences of his actions." In January 2025, Ms Sturgeon announced she had split from Murrell. The pair, who first met via the SNP in 1988 and became a couple in 2003, married in 2010. Ms Sturgeon announced the separation in a post on Instagram, revealing they had been "separated for some time now" but "still care deeply for each other, and always will".

Rudi Douglas, a 39-year-old musician from Ireland, had been booked to play piano at the event before being asked to sing and eventually being joined by the pop star. Speaking to Sky News, Mr Douglas explained how he had been booked for the Monday event three or four weeks ago but wasn't told until last week what the occasion was. "I was just stunned, I was like 'Please let this happen'," he says. Originally booked just to play piano, Mr Douglas was asked to sing a few songs after Netflix staff heard him singing while warming up. He was in the middle of playing a few songs to draw people into the room when the pop star surprised him. The pair later sang five songs together, including All The Lovers and Spinning Around. It was a dream come true for the musician, who won tickets to see the star in 2018 after being in her top 0.1% of listeners on Spotify. At one point, Mr Douglas even had to remind his idol of the words. Read more from Sky News:Old engines force Red Arrows to fly with just seven aircraftWish You Were Here host Judith Chalmers has died While in the third verse of singing Dancing together, the musician recalls Kylie turning to him and saying, "What's the next bit?" The two didn't speak after the event, but Mr Douglas has no regrets. "We had a big hug and then she disappeared, and I think it was actually perfect like that… there's no other way I could show her how much I love her and her music than just playing it on the piano and singing it to her." The star spoke to Sky's Debbie Ridgard at the event about the struggles she's faced in her career ahead of the release of the Netflix documentary, Kylie, which looks back on her life.

Murrell, the estranged husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday. Between August 2010 and October 2022, he used the funds to buy items including luxury goods and a motorhome, and towards the purchase of two cars. A top police officer said Murrell, 61, diverted the cash from the SNP to "bankroll the lavish lifestyle he craved but could not afford". The motorhome, video games and toilet seats: The downfall of Murrell In an Instagram story, Ms Sturgeon posted: "My reaction to the guilty plea tendered today by my former husband is difficult to put into words. "I am angry, hurt, sad and very distressed about the impact of his actions on family, friends and the SNP. "To be deceived and let down by a husband I loved and trusted has caused me acute pain. Why he acted as he did is, and always will be, beyond my comprehension. "To be clear: I had no knowledge or suspicion whatsoever that he was using SNP funds for personal purposes. "I am utterly appalled that he did so and cannot begin to understand why. That I was fully cleared after a thorough investigation underlines that these are not my crimes. I was misled just as others were. "I know that there will be political discussion in light of what has happened, and I understand why. "However, for me this has also been a profound personal trauma. I need to remain focused on recovering from that and building a new phase of life. I will be making no further comment." Murrell was first arrested in April 2023 as part of Operation Branchform - a Police Scotland probe into the funding and finances of the SNP - and was charged with embezzlement one year later. Judge Lord Young told the once political party kingpin: "You have pleaded guilty to a charge of embezzlement over a period of 12 years. "You embezzled just over £400,000 from the Scottish National Party. "As the chief executive officer of that organisation throughout that period your actions constitute a gross breach of trust." Murrell was handcuffed in the dock and remanded in custody ahead of his sentencing on 23 June. He originally faced an embezzlement charge amounting to £459,046.49, but pleaded guilty to an amended indictment. A full narrative of the facts will be heard in court when the case calls again on 2 June. Following Monday's hearing, the court published 125 pages of documents detailing the charge against Murrell. It included using £16,489 of SNP money in 2016 in part payment for a £32,989 Volkswagen Golf. He then used £57,500 of party funds towards the purchase of an £81,277 Jaguar I-PACE car in 2019. Murrell then falsified an invoice "in an attempt to disguise the true nature of said purchase", and when the motor was sold in 2021 to We Buy Any Car, £47,378.76 was paid into his personal bank account. In 2020, he then used £124,550 of SNP funds to buy a Niesmann and Bischoff Smove 7.4E motorhome for his "own personal use". The indictment also includes dozens of retailers where Murrell made purchases totalling £139,971. These purchases were made using credit cards or charge cards belonging to the SNP, with "false or inaccurate accounting codes and descriptions" for the items inserted into the party's accounting system. Goods purchased over the years included a PlayStation 3 for £247.42; games for multiple different consoles including Grand Theft Auto V (£42.99), The Sims 3: Pets (£31.82) and Battlefield 4 (£34.69); and two Bremont watches amounting to £9,350.25. He also spent £4,225 on a Starwalker World Time fountain pen; £68.82 on two Ideal Standard toilet seats; and £3,231.90 on a Jura Giga 5 Cromo coffee machine. Other purchases included a Celestron 11069 NexStar 8SE computerised Schmidt-Cassegrain telescope (£1,199); two pairs of Fit Nation socks (£11.95); a Fortnum & Mason musical advent calendar (£150); a Beatles special edition fountain pen and rollerball (£1,475); and a copy of the book Women Hold Up Half the Sky: Selected Speeches of Nicola Sturgeon (£22.04). SNP leader and First Minister John Swinney said the "level of personal horror" he felt over Murrell's crimes was "difficult for me to properly convey". He described it as a "tough day" for the party and "an overwhelming betrayal", adding: "I am gutted by this today." His comments came as he apologised to those affected by Murrell's "whole scale deception", acknowledging the SNP had been "badly, badly, badly let down" by its former chief executive. He said: "What I am thinking about, I've not been able to stop thinking about, is the decent people who have stood with me at coffee mornings and jumble sales, raising the money, paying their money to party headquarters. "People who I know don't have much money to rub together, but have paid their membership subs to keep the SNP afloat because they believe in independence." Mr Swinney said Murrel "should have known this was the wrong thing to do". The first minister added: "By embezzling from the SNP, Peter Murrell was stealing the hopes, the dreams, and the aspirations of thousands of people all over Scotland, people who gave what they could over many years in the hope that it would help contribute to a better country. "So, today I am horrified, I am betrayed." Murrell, who had been SNP chief executive for more than 20 years, resigned in March 2023 amid a row over party membership numbers. Ms Sturgeon and ex-party treasurer MSP Colin Beattie were also arrested as part of Operation Branchform, but both were later cleared of any wrongdoing by Police Scotland. Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston, who had oversight of Operation Branchform, said: "This was a lengthy and extremely complex case due to the scale of criminality over a 12-year period and the lengths Peter Murrell went to try and cover his tracks. "I commend the professionalism and absolute dedication of the Operation Branchform team who spent more than four years carrying out extensive enquiries across Europe to unpick Murrell's offending." ACC Houston said the investigative work, in close partnership with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), was carried out "under the most intense public scrutiny". He added: "This is without doubt one of the most high-profile investigations in recent times and it is testimony to the work of Police Scotland officers and staff that has led to Peter Murrell's admission of guilt early in the court process. "I would also like to thank the many witnesses who came forward to provide us with statements as we built the case against Peter Murrell. Their engagement with us was vital. "Peter Murrell has shown utter contempt for the high public trust placed in him as the chief executive of a political party and his position in the wider political establishment in Scotland for many years. "He abused his privileged position with access to Scottish National Party funds to divert cash into his own accounts and bankroll the lavish lifestyle he craved but could not afford. "From 2010 to 2022 he spent hundreds of thousands of pounds on luxury goods while carefully trying to hide his criminality with false receipts and accounting. "He must now face the consequences of his actions." In January 2025, Ms Sturgeon announced she had split from Murrell. The pair, who first met via the SNP in 1988 and became a couple in 2003, married in 2010. Ms Sturgeon announced the separation in a post on Instagram, revealing they had been "separated for some time now" but "still care deeply for each other, and always will".

Antonelli becomes the first driver in F1 history to claim his first four wins consecutively and extends his lead in the Drivers' Championship to 43 points. But the two Mercedes almost came to blows during an incredible fight for the lead that lasted 31 laps until Russell's retirement, as Antonelli and Russell traded positions on several occasions at the Circuit Gilles Villeneuve. Canadian GP result | F1 2026 standingsF1 2026 Calendar | F1 Gossip ColumnDownload the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 Antonelli was inches from running into the back of Russell early on and the pair later made minor contact, but they avoided any damage in one of the most exciting lead battles in recent F1 memory. "We are in for a bit of a classic season as there is nothing between Russell and Antonelli," said Sky Sports F1's Martin Brundle. Lewis Hamilton overtook Max Verstappen late on to take his best result for Ferrari in second on a strong weekend for the seven-time world champion. But, Verstappen will be satisfied with his first podium of 2026 after making up ground in the opening stint in cold conditions which challenged the drivers. Charles Leclerc was fourth despite a late half-spin with Ferrari moving ahead of McLaren into second in the Constructors' Championship. Neither McLaren driver scored points as Lando Norris and Oscar Piastri gambled by starting on the intermediates, which proved to be the incorrect strategy. Norris later retired due to a suspected gearbox failure when coming through the field, while Piastri had contact with Williams' Alex Albon and was hit with a 10-second time penalty Isack Hadjar held onto fifth despite two penalties for weaving as he tried to defend from Leclerc and for speeding under yellow flag conditions. Alpine's Franco Colapinto continued his strong form with a career-best sixth, with Racing Bulls' Liam Lawson fending off Pierre Gasly to take seventh. Williams' Carlos Sainz finished ninth for the third time this season and Haas' Oliver Bearman was 10th. Two extra formation laps took place before the race due to Britain's Arvid Lindblad suffering an issue which meant he could not take the start. Epic Russell-Antonelli battle ended early Russell had been delivering under pressure on a big weekend for the British driver after taking top spot in Sprint Qualifying, the Sprint and Qualifying. However, there was very little to separate the Mercedes duo on pure pace, as Antonelli showed in the Sprint when he lost out to Russell after they made minor contact. Antonelli was unhappy with Russell's defence on Saturday and the aggressive racing continued into the Grand Prix itself almost from the off. This time it was Antonelli defending from Russell initially as he got the better start - although both Mercedes were overtaken down to Turn 1 by Norris, although the McLaren driver pitted at the end of the second lap as his intermediates quickly overheated. Russell overtook Antonelli on Lap 6 going into the final chicane but the Italian nearly ran into the back of his team-mate in what would have been a race-ending collision for both drivers. Both drivers made minor mistakes at the Turn 10 hairpin in gusty conditions but remained close, before Antonelli took the lead again on Lap 22. But, two laps later, the pair brushed wheels at the final chicane with Antonelli cutting the corner and was told to give up the position, which he did later in the lap. Unfortunately, the drama came to an end on Lap 31 when Russell grounded to a halt due to a power unit failure. He was visibly furious as he threw his head rest out of the car, knowing it could be a significant moment in the title race. "Everything just turned off all of a sudden. I went into the corner, the engine stopped, no electronics, no proper braking. A bit lost for words to be honest right now," Russell told Sky Sports F1. "From my side, I don't feel like there was anything more I could have done this weekend. I will leave satisfied. Of course I'm pretty damn frustrated with what happened. What more can I do?" Russell's stoppage caused a Virtual Safety Car, so most drivers took that opportunity to make their only pit stop of the race. Antonelli went on to dominate the Grand Prix but Verstappen and Hamilton were pushing hard for second. Hamilton slowly closed down a seven-second deficit to Verstappen but it looked like a lack of power from the Ferrari engine would make it too difficult for him to overtake his rival. Hamilton went for it with six laps to go with a decisive move around the outside into Turn 1 and fended off Verstappen, who crossed the line only half a second behind. "A good day of racing and a really solid weekend. I have felt on the up and the team have done a really amazing job," Hamilton told Sky Sports F1. "For us to be up there battling, and also go have a good battle with Max, I am really grateful. And so happy." Next up is the start of Formula 1's European summer swing, with the Monaco Grand Prix the first of six races in eight weeks. Watch live on Sky Sports F1 from June 5-7. Stream Sky Sports with NOW - no contract, cancel anytime

The industry brought £8.8bn to the British economy last year; it generates twice as much revenue as film and TV; it employs 73,000 workers around the country. They're big numbers and they're often rolled out because to a lot of people, gaming can still feel niche; the domain of teenage boys in fusty bedrooms. Sure, it inspires devotees; we watched this weekend as tens of thousands of elaborately costumed fans poured into MCM Comic Con in London. But that's not the whole story; the majority of adults (65%) now play video games. (If you're thinking, 'Not me or my friends' - phone games like Candy Crush and Farmville are video games.) Those working on our games argue there's a huge cultural value to British gaming too. "I always think of the money, but the cultural impact of games is phenomenal," said Harvey Elliott, founder of games publisher Playstack and board member of Ukie, the industry's trade body. "We know that this generation of kids is growing up with gaming as their main entertainment platform." Another publisher, James Schall of Secret Mode games, believes video games are becoming a way of showing off British culture to the world. Four of the companies' games, based in glamorous locations like Scarborough and a Scottish oil rig in the '70s, have had a surprising amount of international success. "You may think some of these games are only for British audiences but actually audiences in America, in Germany, in China adore these stories," said Mr Schall. "The output is so strong, not just financially, but also culturally in selling Great Britain as a destination and as a brand," he said. But change is coming, and difficult decisions are on the horizon. "The video games market, in terms of console and PC, reached maturity," said George E Osborn, author of Power Play: Video Games, Politics and the Battle for Global Influence. "That means growth is tailing off here, but it's continuing to grow the industry at large in places like China." Naturally, that means money and talent is heading east to where the growth is; China has overtaken the US in terms of dominance in video games, its market is worth more than $50bn. With all that change afoot, the people who make our video games here in the UK are having to reassess. "You're having to change a lot of fundamentals about how you do business, who you trade with, and whether you have to make some difficult decisions like 'Do I want to do things like censor my video game to get access to the Chinese market?'," said Mr Osborn. "These are big, complicated decisions." Read more from Sky News:Rape case in which teenage boys spared jail 'appalling', PM saysBody found in search for boy, 15, missing after entering lake The last thing you need during a period of instability like that… is instability at home. The turbulent landscape in Westminster, with a Labour leadership race looming, has the potential to rock an already unstable - and highly valuable - industry. Watch the video at the top to find out why Westminster's troubles could impact the games we play.

Chalmers, who was 90, died on Thursday evening. Her family said she had become seriously ill in recent weeks. In a statement to Sky News, they said she died peacefully at home, surrounded by her family, after living with Alzheimer's in her final years. Chalmers' family said: "After living an extraordinary life that involved over 60 years in broadcasting and countless adventures all over the globe, Judy sadly passed away last night, surrounded by the family she loved so much after suffering with Alzheimer's for some years. "We will miss her greatly but she leaves behind a giant suitcase of the happiest of memories." Fans paid tribute on social media, with one calling her "a national treasure". Chalmers, who was born in Gatley, Cheshire, started working for the BBC when she was just 13. In the 1960s, she presented two BBC radio programmes, Family Favourites and Woman's Hour. She also presented the BBC's Come Dancing from 1961 to 1965. In 1974, Chalmers started presenting ITV's travel programme Wish You Were Here...? - a gig she kept until 2003. In the 1980s, she was a regular host of the Miss World contest on ITV, as well as the BBC's Children's Television Club which later became Blue Peter. In 1994, she was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for her services to broadcasting. Read more from Sky News:Why could we have a record-breaking heatwave?Burnham backs Mahmood's tough immigration stance In 2008, her son, Mark Durden-Smith, hosted a new version of the show, called Wish You Were Here...? Now & Then, which saw locations from the show's original series revisited to see how they had changed. She leaves behind her husband, former sports commentator Neil Durden-Smith, their two children, and six grandchildren.

Murrell, the estranged husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, used the illicit funds to bankroll a lavish lifestyle which included luxury goods and a motorhome, and towards the purchase of two cars. The 61-year-old, who was at the helm of the party for more than 20 years, pleaded guilty during a hearing at the High Court in Edinburgh on Monday. Murrell was charged as part of Police Scotland's Operation Branchform - a long-running investigation into the SNP's funding and finances. Here, we take a look at some of the key dates which led to the downfall of the once political party kingpin. September 2014 Alex Salmond quits as first minister and SNP leader following the results of the Scottish independence referendum. He is replaced by his deputy, Nicola Sturgeon. In an interview with The Telegraph in 2023, the late Mr Salmond, who died in 2024, claimed he told his successor at the time that her husband, Peter Murrell, should not be chief executive while she leads the party. He said "neither took it well", adding: "But it was advice well meant. It seemed to me a patently obvious point. I think my estrangement from Nicola and Peter can be traced to that moment." May 2015 The SNP secures a historic landslide general election victory in Scotland, winning 56 out of 59 seats. March 2017 Ms Sturgeon announces plans for a second independence referendum. The SNP launch the #ScotRef fundraiser in a bid to raise £1m. June 2017 The #ScotRef crowdfunder is closed down early, having raised just under £500,000. The move comes after the SNP suffered losses in the general election, winning 35 seats out of 59 in Scotland - 21 fewer than in 2015. December 2019 The SNP bounce back in another general election - securing 48 seats and 45% of the vote. Ms Sturgeon says the country has sent a "clear message" on indyref2. A second fundraiser via website yes.scot is launched and helps to bring the ringfenced independence campaign fund to around £667,000. SNP membership peaks at 125,691. October 2020 Pro-independence blogger Stuart Campbell, who is behind the Wings Over Scotland website, shines a spotlight on the SNP's 2019 accounts and highlights how the party only has £96,854 cash in hand and at the bank and total net assets of £271,916. He urges concerned donors to ask the SNP what happened to their contribution. March 2021 Three senior SNP officials - Frank Ross, Allison Graham and Cynthia Guthrie - resign from the party's finance and audit committee after being denied sight of the accounts. At the same virtual SNP National Executive Committee (NEC) meeting, Ms Sturgeon is filmed downplaying concerns, stating: "The party has never been in a stronger financial position than it is right now." She later warns: "Just be very careful, all of us, about suggestions that there are problems with the party's finances because we depend on donors to donate. "There are no reasons for people to be concerned about the party's finances and all of us need to be careful about not suggesting that there is." The video of Ms Sturgeon, which appears to have been recorded without her knowledge, is not leaked until two years later. Following the meeting, Police Scotland receives its first complaint about the alleged misuse of party funds. May 2021 The SNP storms to its fourth consecutive success at the Scottish parliament election, winning 64 seats - just one shy of a majority. Douglas Chapman, an MP at the time, later resigns as party treasurer, claiming he has not been given enough information to do his job. Westminster colleague Joanna Cherry, a vocal internal critic of the party's leadership, also resigns from her role on the NEC amid "transparency" concerns. June 2021 MSP Colin Beattie takes over as SNP treasurer. Murrell loans the party £107,620 to help with "cash flow" following the Holyrood election, however, the news does not emerge until December 2022. July 2021 Police Scotland launches Operation Branchform into the SNP's funding and finances amid complaints that ringfenced cash for independence campaigning has been used improperly by being spent elsewhere. August 2021 As the party's annual accounts are published, then treasurer Mr Beattie acknowledges there has been "concern" about transparency over independence-related appeals that has raised more than £600,000. In a section of the accounts, he reveals £666,953 has been raised since 2017 up to the end of 2021, with a total of £51,760 expenditure applied to this income. The money was "earmarked" through internal processes, he says, though the accounts do not officially record a separate sum. December 2022 When it publicly emerges Murrell loaned the SNP £107,620 in June 2021, Ms Sturgeon says: "The resources that he lent the party were resources that belonged to him." February 2023 Ms Sturgeon unexpectedly announces she is standing down as SNP leader and first minister, saying: "In my head and in my heart, I know that time is now." This comes less than a month after she said she was "nowhere near" ready to quit and still had "plenty in the tank". Ms Sturgeon denies the controversial Isla Bryson case is the reason behind her decision. March 2023 Concerns are once again raised over the exact size of the SNP membership following an earlier Sunday Mail story reporting it had fallen dramatically. Under pressure, the party eventually reveals that just 72,186 members are eligible to vote in the leadership contest to replace Ms Sturgeon - a drop of around 30,000 since 2021. Murray Foote, then the SNP's head of communications, announces his resignation. Mr Foote, who described the initial newspaper story as "drivel", claims he acted in "good faith" when issuing agreed party responses to media inquiries regarding membership numbers. Murrell follows suit and resigns with immediate effect as the SNP's chief executive after more than 20 years at the helm. Reports suggest members of the SNP's ruling NEC threatened a vote of no confidence. Shouldering the blame for the party's responses to the media over membership numbers, Murrell accepts: "While there was no intent to mislead, I accept that this has been the outcome." In the same month, Liz Lloyd, Ms Sturgeon's strategic adviser and long-time chief of staff, announces she will leave the Scottish government when her boss does. In an interview with Sky News, Ms Sturgeon says she has not heard whether police want to interview her or her husband as part of the long-running probe into SNP finances. Speaking to Beth Rigby, Ms Sturgeon declines to comment on the ongoing investigation. April 2023 On 5 April, Murrell is arrested and later released without charge in connection with Operation Branchform. The couple's home is searched, with a blue forensics tent erected outside the South Lanarkshire property. Police also search the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh and seize a luxury motorhome that was parked in the driveway of Murrell's 92-year-old mother's home in Fife. As news of the arrest is reported across the nation, former SNP top dog and now Alba Party leader Mr Salmond walks past his old party HQ along with colleagues Tasmina Ahmed-Sheikh and Chris McEleny. Mr Salmond, on his way to a nearby BBC office, says: "I led the SNP for a long time. I'm very sad about what's happening to it and indeed what it has become." Days later, it emerges that the party's longstanding accountants, Johnston Carmichael, had months earlier resigned from their role as auditors. New and then first minister Humza Yousaf goes on to admit he was unaware of the accounting situation or that the SNP owned a state-of-the-art motorhome until he became party leader in recent weeks. On 18 April, Mr Beattie is arrested and later released without charge in connection with Operation Branchform. He subsequently steps down as SNP treasurer, with then MP Stuart McDonald taking on the role. Mr McDonald admits it's a "difficult and challenging time" for the party. On 25 April, Ms Sturgeon tells reporters at Holyrood: "I understand the view that some people might have, that I knew this was all about to unfold and that's why I walked away. "Nothing could be further from the truth. I could not have anticipated in my worst nightmares what would have unfolded over the past few weeks." May 2023 The SNP's Westminster group files its audited accounts ahead of the deadline, ensuring it does not miss out on £1.2m worth of "short money" - public funding for opposition parties to carry out their parliamentary work. It comes after the SNP signed a contract with AMS Accountants Group earlier in the month, after it was revealed the previous auditors, Johnston Carmichael, quit in September 2022 following a review of the company's client portfolio. June 2023 On 11 June, Ms Sturgeon is arrested and released without charge pending further investigation as part of Operation Branchform. The then Glasgow Southside MSP "voluntarily" arranged with Police Scotland to be questioned as part of the investigation into the SNP's finances, a spokesperson says. Upon returning to Holyrood, she states: "The thing that sustains me right now is the certainty that I have done nothing wrong." July 2023 Then Police Scotland chief constable Sir Iain Livingstone says Operation Branchform has "moved beyond what some of the initial reports were". Sir Iain does not give a timeline for the length of the investigation, but says it will be "proportionate and timeous". August 2023 Ex-comms boss Mr Foote returns to the SNP to replace Murrell as chief executive of the party. He leaves the post 14 months later. April 2024 On 18 April, Murrell is re-arrested as part of Operation Branchform and later charged in connection with embezzlement of SNP funds. May 2024 Police Scotland submits a standard prosecution report to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS). It is now up to COPFS to decide whether there is enough evidence to prosecute Murrell, and whether it believes a prosecution would be in the public interest. January 2025 Ms Surgeon announces on Instagram that she and Murrell have been "separated for some time" and have "decided to end" their marriage. The pair met via the SNP in 1988 and first became a couple in 2003. They later married in July 2010 at Oran Mor in Glasgow. Ms Sturgeon adds: "It goes without saying that we still care deeply for each other, and always will." March 2025 Ms Surgeon, who has been an MSP since 1999, announces she will not seek re-election at the 2026 Holyrood election. The following week, on 20 March, Murrell appears at Edinburgh Sheriff Court charged with embezzlement. He makes no plea and is released on bail. On the same day, Police Scotland confirms Ms Sturgeon and Mr Beattie are no longer under investigation. Speaking outside her home, Ms Sturgeon says: "As I have said to all of you many times, I have done nothing wrong. "So, I was confident of reaching this point and getting to this outcome, but obviously it is a relief now to have that confirmed." In a statement posted online, Mr Beattie expresses his absolute delight in being cleared and says he intends to "share a glass of something with my wife tonight". The MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh adds: "While there was no question in my mind that I had done nothing wrong, the fact is that it created a question among those who do not know me." August 2025 The SNP's financial accounts reveal the party spent £100,790 on the campervan seized by police two years prior. Still impounded, the vehicle is now worth less than half of its original cost - depreciating to £41,284 as of 31 December 2024. The accounts also show membership has fallen to 56,011 as of 1 June 2025, which is a significant drop since its peak of 125,691 in 2019. However, donations surge from £369,308 in 2023 to £937,167 in 2024 - the highest level since 2017. February 2026 Murrell is due to appear before the High Court in Glasgow on 20 February. Ahead of the scheduled preliminary hearing, the Scottish Sun publishes the full list of charges he is facing after viewing the indictment. In total, Murrell is accused of embezzling £459,046.49 between August 2010 and January 2023. The February court date does not go ahead and is instead pushed back to 25 May. In the same month, it is revealed that Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain KC - who holds the dual role of Scotland's chief prosecutor and the Scottish government's principal legal adviser as a cabinet minister - informed now First Minister John Swinney of Murrell's charges around 10 months before they were made public. Mr Swinney says it is "entirely appropriate" for the nation's top law officer to brief him on "sensitive" court cases. Ms Bain also defends her actions while being grilled by MSPs at Holyrood, saying: "The lord advocate does not brief political parties, the lord advocate advises constitutional office holders of information they require to be aware of." May 2026 The SNP wins its fifth successive Scottish parliament election, securing 58 seats. Mr Swinney is re-elected as first minister. Ms Bain, who was appointed lord advocate in June 2021 after being nominated for the post by Ms Sturgeon, announces she intends to step down from the role. Via a freedom of information (FOI) request, it is revealed Police Scotland has spent £2,173,089 as of 30 April 2026 on Operation Branchform. On 25 May, Murrell appears before the High Court in Edinburgh. He pleads guilty to an amended indictment, admitting embezzling £400,310.65 from the SNP between August 2010 and October 2022. A full narrative of the facts will be heard in court when the case calls again on 2 June. Ahead of that, the court publishes 125 pages of documents detailing the charge against Murrell. It includes using £16,489 of SNP money in 2016 in part payment for a £32,989 Volkswagen Golf; £57,500 of party funds towards the purchase of an £81,277 Jaguar I-PACE car in 2019; and £124,550 of SNP cash to buy a Niesmann and Bischoff Smove 7.4E motorhome in 2020. The indictment additionally includes dozens of retailers where Murrell made purchases totalling £139,971. Goods purchased over the years included a PlayStation 3 for £247.42; games for multiple different consoles including Grand Theft Auto V (£42.99), The Sims 3: Pets (£31.82) and Battlefield 4 (£34.69); and two Bremont watches amounting to £9,350.25. He also spent £4,225 on a Starwalker World Time fountain pen; £68.82 on two Ideal Standard toilet seats; and £3,231.90 on a Jura Giga 5 Cromo coffee machine. Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston, who had oversight of Operation Branchform, says Murrell used SNP funds to "bankroll the lavish lifestyle he craved but could not afford". Ms Sturgeon issues a statement via Instagram stories, saying she is "angry, hurt, sad and very distressed" over the impact of her ex's actions on family, friends and the SNP. She adds: "To be deceived and let down by a husband I loved and trusted has caused me acute pain. Why he acted as he did is, and always will be, beyond my comprehension. "To be clear: I had no knowledge or suspicion whatsoever that he was using SNP funds for personal purposes. I am utterly appalled that he did so and cannot begin to understand why." Ms Sturgeon highlights how she was cleared in the investigation. She adds: "I was misled just as others were. "I know that there will be political discussion in light of what has happened, and I understand why. "However, for me this has also been a profound personal trauma. I need to remain focused on recovering from that and building a new phase of life. I will be making no further comment." Once one-half of a political power couple, Murrell's fall from grace will culminate with his sentencing on 23 June.

Antonelli and Russell staged a thrilling contest at the Canadian Grand Prix on Sunday - a continuation of their fight in the Sprint from the previous day - until a power unit problem for Russell brought the lead duel to an end after 30 laps. In Saturday's Sprint, Antonelli was unhappy with his team-mate's defence. The drivers discussed the incident before the Grand Prix but it did not reduce the aggression levels. F1 2026 standings F1 2026 Calendar | F1 Gossip ColumnDownload the Sky Sports app for expert analysis, best video & more📱Not got Sky? Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW📺 At one point, Antonelli nearly ran into the back of Russell while the pair touched wheels at the final chicane, too, and Wolff says he will highlight those moments to his drivers. "It's always easy at the end now to say, 'well, that was great for the team and great for the sport, didn't we all enjoy watching the battling?' That is true to a degree, but there is another side which we need to look at, that it was close a few times," he explained. "Kimi tucking back in and locking the tyres could have ended up in a double DNF and not because of over-aggressive driving, simply by a mistake. The same through the last chicane with that situation. "It's important to analyse the race and discuss with the drivers whether they felt it was a bit close and if that is the case, how can we avoid these very, very tough situations or very, let's say, situations where we deem it a little bit too close." Despite their battling on Sunday, the Mercedes pair were still able to pull away from Red Bull's Max Verstappen and Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton. Mercedes' upgrades for Canada appeared to move them further ahead of the field and Wolff suggested, if there are future races without a pace advantage, that may also lead to the toning down of the duelling. "When they were driving behind each other, we were going half a second quicker than everybody behind us, but when they were fighting, we were losing a second to all the others," he said. "So, we had the gap, we had the margin and it's easy to accept that they are fighting to a certain degree, but obviously that's not going to be always the case. "As much as we look very sportsmanlike in Canada allowing it, there could be a situation where we would maybe, turn it down a notch." Wolff not fully happy with radio comments There seemed to be less animosity compared to the Sprint, particularly from Antonelli's side, but the Italian teenager felt he was "pushed off" at the final chicane on the last occasion they went side by side before Russell's retirement. Both drivers were told to keep the racing "tidy" or team orders would be implemented and Wolff admits "there's room for improvement" when it comes to radio conversations. "That's something we can clear internally. I don't appreciate so much elaborating on emotions on the radio," he said. "Wearing your heart on your sleeve is right. Concentrate on the driving, that's important. But other than that, I think they behaved like race drivers that race for a championship, so I wouldn't be able to see a fault in that." Antonelli's fourth consecutive win and Russell's misfortune mean 43 points split the Mercedes drivers after five rounds going into next week's Monaco Grand Prix. Wolff said: "More than ever, this fight is on. There is so much at stake for both. As a team, as uncomfortable as the ride is sometimes, you have to accept that this is the fight they've been trained for. "But equally, if there was a situation where we believe the team's points are at risk of being lost, or there was a situation where we were losing so much time to our competitors behind, then we would not be a millimetre hesitant of putting the handbrake on." Next up is the start of Formula 1's European summer swing, with the Monaco Grand Prix the first of six races in eight weeks. Watch live on Sky Sports F1 from June 5-7. Stream Sky Sports with NOW.