Nicola Sturgeon, the former First Minister of Scotland, has confirmed that she has ceased all communication with her husband, Peter Murrell, since he began serving a five-year prison sentence. Murrell was jailed in June after pleading guilty to embezzling over £400,000 from the Scottish National Party (SNP).

During a live podcast recording at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, Sturgeon spoke candidly about the personal toll of the scandal. She revealed that she does not intend to visit Murrell in prison and characterized her previous concerns for his mental health and wellbeing as misplaced. Sturgeon told broadcaster Iain Dale that she felt like a "mug" for supporting him, as she believes he misled her about his activities until the moment he entered his guilty plea.

This marks a significant public distancing between the couple, who have been central figures in Scottish politics for decades. While Sturgeon has previously faced questions regarding her knowledge of the SNP's financial affairs, her recent comments emphasize a complete breakdown in their personal relationship following his conviction. The situation remains a high-profile development in the ongoing fallout surrounding the party's financial investigations.