Nicola Sturgeon fought back tears while sharing a poignant moment involving a gift from her estranged husband, who recently admitted to embezzling over £400,000 from the SNP.

The former Scottish First Minister expressed feeling unjustly burdened by the situation, likening it to serving a sentence for a crime she did not commit. Despite her emotional turmoil, she stood firm in refusing to apologize for her husband’s wrongdoing. This revelation came after Peter Murrell, her ex-husband and former SNP chief executive from 2001 to 2023, confessed to the embezzlement last week.

Murrell’s lavish spending spree with the misappropriated funds included purchases ranging from luxury items like a motorhome, pricey watches, and pens to more mundane items such as hand cream and kitchen staples. The list of expenditures also highlighted a £67 toilet seat among other curious buys.

In an interview with BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg, Sturgeon emphasized her accountability for her actions but adamantly distanced herself from any responsibility for her spouse’s criminal acts. She highlighted the unfair societal expectation that women often face in shouldering blame for their partners’ misdeeds and affirmed her commitment to taking ownership of her decisions.

Reflecting on a poignant moment involving a Shetland necklace gifted by her estranged husband using illicit funds, Sturgeon recounted how the sentimentality of the gift was tainted by the revelation of its true origin. Despite her efforts to come to terms with the betrayal, she expressed uncertainty about ever fully processing the emotional turmoil it caused.

Sturgeon also expressed profound anger towards Murrell for the deception and public scrutiny she endured as a result of his actions. She underscored the gravity of the situation, emphasizing the personal and public repercussions she faced due to her husband’s misconduct.