Nicola Sturgeon has been seen enjoying a relaxed lunch in west London, just days after her estranged husband Peter Murrell was jailed over the SNP funds case.
The former Scottish First Minister was pictured dining outdoors at Golborne Bistro in Notting Hill with leading human rights lawyer Claire Mitchell KC. The pair appeared to make the most of the warm weather, chatting over food and white wine during what looked like a much-needed break from months of political and personal pressure.
Sturgeon, 55, is filing for divorce from Murrell, the former SNP chief executive. Murrell admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from party funds over a 12-year period and is now serving a five-year prison sentence.
The outing marked one of Sturgeon’s first public appearances since Murrell’s imprisonment. Witnesses described her as relaxed and animated during the meal, despite the continued public attention surrounding the case.
Nicola Sturgeon was seen winding down over a boozy meal with a close friend in Notting Hill
Onlookers said she was laughing and engaging in animated conversation with her lawyer friend as they spent several hours together drinking white wine in the sun
This was Ms Sturgeon’s first public sighting since her husband Peter Murrell was locked up
She looked relatively contented after what must have been an extremely testing period
The former SNP leader met prominent human rights lawyer Claire Mitchell KC at Golborne Bistro in Notting Hill
The pair enjoyed a meal at the upmarket spot, which specialises in Anglo-Mediterranean dishes
Ms Sturgeon made sure to drain every last drop of wine as she enjoyed the recent warm weather
Fortunately her husband’s woes have not totally depleted her sense of humour
Although Sturgeon has always denied any knowledge of Murrell’s actions, she continues to face political questions connected to the wider fallout. She was arrested as part of Operation Branchform in 2023 after stepping down as First Minister, but she has not been charged with any offence.
The case has triggered renewed calls from critics for Sturgeon to release a written statement she provided to police. Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton has argued that making the statement public could help answer lingering questions and reduce speculation around what Sturgeon knew.
Sturgeon’s lawyer Aamer Anwar has strongly defended her, saying she is innocent of any crime and warning against attempts to imply guilt when she has not been charged, prosecuted or convicted.
The meal no doubt provided some light relief for the veteran Scottish politician, who vehemently denied any knowledge of her husband’s crimes
Ms Sturgeon tapped her phone to pay for the refreshments before the pair headed off down the street
The pair selected a street-facing wooden bench for their afternoon rendezvous
Ms Sturgeon has insisted that she fully cooperated with the police probe.
The political pressure has not ended with Murrell’s conviction. Some former SNP figures and opposition voices have demanded a wider inquiry into party finances, governance and how internal concerns were handled in the years before the case reached court.
However, current SNP leader John Swinney has rejected calls for a parliamentary inquiry, pointing to the criminal justice process and saying the case has already reached a clear conclusion through the courts.
For Sturgeon, the London lunch appeared to offer a short moment of calm after a bruising chapter. Once the dominant figure in Scottish politics, she is now facing life beyond frontline leadership while questions about the SNP scandal continue to follow her.
Whether the public appearance signals a fresh start or simply a brief escape from the pressure, it has again placed Sturgeon at the centre of attention during one of the most difficult periods of her public life.
