Peter Murrell bought gifts for years on the significant date as calls for an inquiry grow.

Crooked Peter Murrell treated himself to more than £300 of household goods on his birthday with stolen SNP money. The conman was also accused of using nicked cash for a Kindle on his big day but the allegation was struck off by prosecutors.

Part of his plea deal also involved dropping claims he bought a shower head on the day of his dad’s funeral.

Murrell is facing a jail term next week after he pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 of SNP funds over a 12-year period as party chief executive.

The estranged husband of Nicola Sturgeon admitted stealing the cash to pay for two cars and a motorhome, as well as a host of luxury and everyday items for his own personal gain.

A copy of the indictment reveals the fraudster swindling his own party on his December 8 birthday. On that date in 2015 – around a year after his wife became First Minister – the birthday boy purchased £255 of TreeWool bath sheets.

In 2021, he welcomed his birthday by shelling out £45.45 on a metal basket rolling cart. He also raided £112,050 from an SNP bank account on the day before his birthday in 2020 to help pay for the motorhome.

A plea deal agreed between the Crown Office and Murrell’s legal team resulted in £58,735 of low-value goods getting axed from the case.

These included a £169 Kindle, wooden hangers worth £16.99 and tealight holders worth £211.60, which were bought on his birthdays in 2012, 2016 and 2018.

The original indictment accused Murrell of spending £37.20 on a Mira shower head on November 18, 2019. This was the same day as his late father Henry’s funeral at the crematorium in Dunfermline.

An obituary referred to him as a “devoted” father to “Peter” and a “much loved father-in-law to Nicola”. The term of the plea deal revealed the shower head purchase was dropped by the prosecution.

Last night, political opponents claimed Murrell’s birthday spending spree showed the need for a full inquiry into the SNP finance scandal.

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Scottish Labour Deputy Leader Jackie Baillie said: “Peter Murrell’s birthday spending sprees raise yet more questions about how his theft went undetected for so long.

“If John Swinney and the SNP have nothing to hide, they should have nothing to fear from a Parliamentary inquiry – but last week they voted to block one and stop Scots getting the answers they deserve.”

Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay said: “Peter Murrell didn’t only lavish Nicola Sturgeon with gifts and trinkets bought with stolen SNP cash – he also liked to treat himself.

“These revelations appear to be further evidence he was allowed to remove embarrassing purchases from his charge sheet as part of the secretive plea deal process.”

It is understood Murrell may offer to pay back the stolen money, which he swindled from SNP charge cards and their principal bank account, when he returns to court for sentencing next week.

Court documents say most of the SNP cash was donations, membership fees and legacies. Murrell falsified accounting records and created fake invoices to cover up his wrongdoing.

One of the vehicles he bought was a Volkswagen Golf car, which was later sold and the proceeds used towards buying a Jaguar I-Pace worth more than £81,000.

Court papers show a lengthy list of items he bought with the embezzled money, including a space telescope, DVDs, a home library ladder worth more than £900 and a coffee machine worth nearly £3232.

The court was also told about a robotic lawnmower purchased by Murrell for £3070. This was misdescribed as “legal fees” in the SNP’s accounting software.

A silver wine coaster worth £3500 was described as “leadership expenses”.

He also used SNP funds to buy almost £2000 on video gaming items over a 10-year period, beginning with a £247 purchase of a Sony PlayStation 3 console.

Sturgeon has claimed she knew nothing of Murrell’s activities during their marriage and when she was SNP leader.

At a Borders Book Festival event in Melrose, she was asked if she had ever noticed Murrell suffering from a “compulsive, impulsive personality disorder”.

She replied: “No, I didn’t.”

The disgraced former CEO is also under fire after successfully applying for legal aid despite earning a near six-figure salary.

The SNP are also in talks with HMRC about whether they claimed back tax on Murrell’s criminal purchases.

Party leader John Swinney said: “The issues in relation to the implications of Peter Murrell’s admission of guilt about the embezzlement of Scottish National Party funds does have potential implications in relation to the payment of taxation.

“It has been important that we have proactively raised these issues with HMRC in the light of what we now know about the criminal conviction.”

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A car has left the M62 after a crash this morning.

The major motorway is closed between J8 Burtonwood and J7 Rainhill following the single vehicle collision.

The carriageway has been closed to allow emergency services to response to the incident safely.

National Highways warn that delays are building and there is congestion on the approach.

This is a live news story, follow below for further updates.

Weeks after winning a historic Premier League title, Arsenal are refreshening their ranks after agreeing to let no fewer than 10 players leave as the transfer window gets underway

Arsenal are not resting on their laurels in the hunt for further success following this season’s Premier League title. In fact, the newly crowned kings of England have already agreed to 10 player departures this summer.

The summer transfer window is barely 24 hours old after opening on Monday and the Gunners are not wasting their time. No fewer than eight players had already agreed to leave the Emirates once their contracts expired at the end of this month.

However, Mikel Arteta‘s side have also agreed two more significant sales that could bring in more than £20million. And it’s possible two more deals could follow in the very near future that also add to Arsenal’s coffers as business gets underway.

Jakub Kiwior has agreed to join Porto on permanent terms after spending this season on loan in Portugal. After helping the Dragons lift the Primeira Liga title, they’ve decided to bring him in on a four-year deal for £14.7m (plus £4.3m in bonuses).

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That move could end up just about covering the £20m Arsenal invested to sign the Pole from Spezia in January 2023. Meanwhile, goalkeeper Karl Hein has agreed a £2.6m move to Werder Bremen having also spent this term on loan with the club.

Those are the only two summer moves already agreed that will generate any money for the club thus far. However, Fabio Vieira and Reiss Nelson could also add to the bank balance depending on how the coming weeks shake out.

Vieira impressed on loan at Hamburg this term, while Nelson spent the campaign on loan at Brentford. Winger Nelson has already returned to the Emirates after the Bees opted not to pay his reported £15m permanent fee, though another move could follow.

It’s reported Hamburg have also allowed the £19m permanent clause in Vieira’s deal to expire following his loan. However, that doesn’t mean the deal is dead in the water amid speculation they’re trying to negotiate for a much small figure.

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As for free departures, Arsenal have said farewell to former club prospects Josh Nichols, Sam Chapman, Will Lannin-Sweet, Samuel Onyekachukwu, Alexei Rojas-Fedorushchenko, Harrison Dudziak, Seb Ferdinand and Cam’ron Ismail.

The likes of Ismail, Lannin-Sweet and Dudziak each spent time on loan away from north London this term before leaving on permanent terms. Ferdinand, 20, was among those to train with the first-team squad this season but will seek opportunities elsewhere instead.

Arsenal confirmed summer departures

Jakub Kiwior (Porto) – £14.7m (plus £4.3m in potential add-ons)

Karl Hein (Werder Bremen) – £2.6m

Josh Nichols – End of contract

Sam Chapman – End of contract

Will Lannin-Sweet – End of contract

Samuel Onyekachukwu – End of contract

Alexei Rojas-Fedorushchenko – End of contract

Harrison Dudziak – End of contract

Seb Ferdinand – End of contract

Cam’ron Ismail – End of contract

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A British expat who moved to Niagara Falls in Ontario, Canada, shared her monthly living costs in a viral TikTok

Relocating overseas is no small task, bringing with it unexpected financial challenges. However, one British woman living abroad has disclosed a particular expense that left her reeling after her move to Canada.

Louise Ware-Armstrong, a lifestyle and travel content creator who swapped the UK for Niagara Falls in Ontario, recently posted a TikTok video detailing her monthly outgoings. While rent, bills and domestic costs were roughly what she’d anticipated, one vital service proved substantially pricier than in Britain.

“One of the most expensive bills in Canada is your phone plan,” she revealed in the video, which has garnered over 11,000 likes. “You cannot find a cheap phone plan anywhere.”

Louise revealed that her combined monthly spend on mobile, broadband and television services totals approximately 400 Canadian dollars (£215). She explained: “For my phone and my internet in my house and my TV package, so for all three of them comes to around $400 a month, which is literally crazy.

“You couldn’t find a phone plan when I first moved here for less than $60 a month without the phone.”

Her comments ignited discussion amongst followers, with many acknowledging this represents a substantial cost-of-living concern in Canada.

Data from the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission (CRTC) shows mobile tariffs have decreased recently, though global studies consistently place Canada amongst the costlier nations for telecommunications provision.

According to price comparison site WhistleOut, the typical Canadian mobile phone bill sits at approximately CA$64 (£34) each month – considerably steeper than UK rates, where regulator Ofcom has previously indicated average monthly mobile expenditure ranges between £15 and £20 based on contract type.

Multiple industry analyses have consistently positioned Canada amongst the pricier nations for mobile phone provision, primarily attributed to reduced market competition and elevated infrastructure expenses.

The vlogger was detailing her complete monthly expenditure following her relocation from Britain to Niagara Falls. She disclosed paying 1,650 Canadian dollars in rent for a two-bedroom property, with additional separate charges for electricity, gas and water utilities.

Nevertheless, the expense of her phone and internet provision proved most striking, with Louise characterising the bill as amongst the most significant financial surprises encountered since moving overseas.

Struggling to fall asleep? Reporter Fiona shares her experience with cognitive shuffling

It’s a feeling countless Brits are familiar with – lying awake in bed, shattered but unable to drop off, frantically trying to force yourself to sleep. You check your mobile, which displays “3am” – merely four hours until the alarm sounds for work.

You might be completely knackered and have stuck to all the expert recommendations – avoiding screens and caffeine before bed, yet somehow, sleep remains elusive. That was my situation last week, over four nights in a row where I would finally drift off at roughly 6am, not long before I need to wake up.

The reason was quite obvious – the second my head touched the pillow, my thoughts would start racing out of control. However, having wrestled with periods of insomnia throughout my life, those entirely unexplained sleepless nights are nothing unusual for me.

Thankfully, during the fifth night, I remembered some advice from Doctor Amir Khan. In a clip shared recently on his Instagram page, Dr Amir revealed a technique known as cognitive shuffling.

This is an approach that indicates to your brain that it’s “safe to sleep”. He proposed that this could work as an effective “alternative” to counting sheep, proving especially helpful when your mind is “too active” to let you sleep.

Having tried numerous sleep methods over the years, cognitive shuffling is undoubtedly one of the most simple I’ve come across – one where I can remember each stage without requiring to check it again.

Essentially, the steps are:

• Think of a word, ideally one containing a diverse mix of letters
• For each letter in that word, you need to think of another word beginning with that letter and picture it clearly in your head
• Keep going until you’ve run out of words starting with that letter before progressing to the next
• If you’re still awake once you’ve finished the word, simply choose another one

In the clip, Dr Amir selected the word “bed” as his example. For whatever reason, the first word that sprang to my mind that night was “basketball”.

I was surprised by the sheer number of words beginning with “B” I was able to find. “Bed” appeared first, undoubtedly influenced by Dr Amir’s suggestion, then “ball”, but then “bologna” and “bolognese”, followed by “bad”.

I continued with “B” for much longer – refusing to give up. Finally, I progressed to “A”, where I considered “ants”, “Australia”, “angry”, and “acne”. But at some point along the way, I did fall asleep.

I’ve got no recollection of considering the letter “S”, which suggests to me I must have nodded off after just two letters. It almost seems absurd – to have lost so many nights of sleep only for this to prove the answer.

Where did it originate?

Cognitive shuffling was brought into the mainstream by Canada-based researcher Luc P. Beaudoin more than a decade ago, after he published his paper examining how what he called “serial diverse imagining” could help with sleep.

The method seeks to replicate the thought patterns of those who sleep well by mimicking the dream-like and scattered thinking they typically experience before nodding off.

According to The Conversation, Beaudoin’s research differentiates between two categories of sleep-related thinking: insomnolent (or sleep-preventing) and pro-somnolent (sleep-encouraging) thoughts. Insomnolent thinking encompasses activities like worrying, planning, rehearsing, and dwelling on perceived problems or shortcomings.

Pro-somnolent thoughts, on the other hand, involve thinking that can assist you in falling asleep, such as dream-like images or keeping a peaceful, relaxed mental state. Cognitive shuffling functions to distract from or interrupt insomnolent thinking. It provides a calm, neutral route for your busy mind, and can lessen the anxiety linked to sleeplessness.

Cognitive shuffling also signals to your brain that you are prepared for sleep. The act of “shuffling” between various thoughts mirrors the way your brain naturally moves into sleep. Throughout this transition towards sleep, brain activity decreases.

Your brain begins to produce unconnected images and brief scenes, called hypnagogic hallucinations, without any deliberate attempt to interpret them. By replicating these fragmented, disjointed and random thought patterns, cognitive shuffling might help facilitate your transition from being awake to falling asleep.

When to consult a GP

The NHS advises that the typical adult requires between seven and nine hours of sleep per night. On average, children require nine to 13 hours, while toddlers and babies need 12 to 17 hours.

The health body recommends you should consult a GP if:

• Altering your sleeping habits hasn’t improved your insomnia
• You’ve experienced difficulty sleeping for months
• Your insomnia is impacting your daily life in a manner that makes it difficult for you to manage

An outline planning application has been submitted with North Yorkshire Council for the development on land off Whitby Road, Pickering, by Keyland Developments Ltd.

Planning chiefs at North Yorkshire Council will recommend that the application is approved when the Thirsk and Malton area planning committee meets on Thursday next week.

The recommendation comes despite officers acknowledging that the site lies beyond the town’s defined development limits.

A report prepared ahead of next week’s meeting states that in “normal circumstances, the principle of development would not be supported” due to

conflict with local plan policy.

However, officers note that the authority is unable to demonstrate a five-year supply of deliverable housing land, as now required by the government.

Where that target cannot be met, the balance tips in favour of planning applications for housing being approved.

The report adds: “The proposal would generate localised economic benefits, including job creation during the construction period, albeit this would be temporary.

“Social benefits include increased housing supply, including policy-compliant levels of affordable housing which are given significant weight. There are further social, health and well-being benefits arising from the provision of public open space with play facilities and environmental enhancement in the form of biodiversity net gain.

“With the ‘tilted’ balance applied, it adds further weight to the position that permission should be granted.”

The scheme would provide a mix of housing, including 35 per cent affordable homes, alongside areas of public open space, landscaping and biodiversity improvements.

A series of planning conditions are also proposed covering matters including drainage, noise mitigation, landscaping, ecology and biodiversity enhancements.

The council has received 15 objections from local residents, with one respondent supporting the scheme.

Objectors raised concerns about highway safety and increased traffic congestion, arguing that access to the site is inadequate.

They also questioned whether local services and infrastructure could cope with the additional homes, citing concerns over drainage capacity, environmental impacts and effects on local ecology.

The facility would be open seven days a week

Plans have been submitted to expand a walking facility for “sensitive dogs” on part of an agricultural farm in Wittering. The proposal would see part of a field at Grange Farm, near to RAF Wittering, converted into a fenced dog-walking paddock, along with a parking area for up to 10 cars.

The applicant, Grange Farm, said the additional paddock would enable the facilities to be rotated, helping to prevent disease.

A planning statement says: “The rise is secure dog-walking facilities, where dogs are able to run without the restriction of a lead, has greatly enhanced the exercise options for such dogs and has brought about a significant improvement in quality of life for both the dogs and their keepers.”

It stated the site would operate on a booking system, with sessions available in 30-minute or one hour slots. Each booking would allow for up to 10 dogs per session.

The walking area will be fenced with a six-feet tall wooden post and livestock netting fence where dogs can run free off the lead. The plans said the enclosure was important for dogs that are unable to be walked safely in public spaces.

The facility would be open seven days a week during daylight hours, as no lighting would be installed. The anticipated hours would be between 6.30am and 9pm at the height of the summer, with reduced hours as daylight hours shorten. The shortest winter opening times are expected to be between 8am to 4pm.

Peterborough City Council will now decide on the planning application.

Andoni Iraola is set for a busy summer after taking over as Liverpool manager and one new addition has already been wrapped up

Liverpool have already made their first signing of the summer transfer window and more are likely to follow. Jeremy Jacquet is due to arrive from Rennes after a £60million deal was agreed but he won’t play under the manager who oversaw his arrival.

Arne Slot was dismissed at the end of May, with Andoni Iraola taking his place in the dugout. The new boss will no doubt have hopes when it comes to the transfer market but the recruitment team haven’t stopped looking at the likes of Yan Diomande.

Ivorian winger Diomande impressed as his country made a winning start to their World Cup campaign against Ecuador. The RB Leipzig star could be one of a number of new additions for Liverpool, while we could also witness some high-profile exits after the departures of two-time title winners Mohamed Salah and Andy Robertson were confirmed during last season.

Iraola could also breathe new life into the careers of some players who dropped off or found themselves sidelined under Slot. We’ve got more on all of this in our latest lines from around Anfield.

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Ivorian boss gives Diomande update

Cote d’Ivoire manager Emerse Fae joked about the Liverpool talk which has surrounded Yan Diomande heading into this summer but acknowledged the links. The winger has also been linked with Paris Saint-Germain and Bayern Munich, though RB Leipzig are holding out for more than £80m for the 19-year-old.

“When we were in France, during the preparation, journalists told me he was about to sign with PSG,” Fae said. “Here, they tell me he’s about to sign with Liverpool!

“I don’t know, but for now, he will focus on the World Cup, and then afterwards, he can think about the rest of his career. Yan – what can I say? I can’t put it into words. He’s very talented, but beyond the talent, he’s very young and he’ll improve.”

Iraola to benefit from ‘new signing’

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The arrival of new Liverpool boss Iraola ought to provide some players a chance to start afresh after a difficult 2025/26 season. Chief among that number is Stefan Bajcetic, who didn’t play a single minute as his injury woes continued.

Bajcetic has returned to training, where he will undergo a personalised programme as he looks to regain match sharpness. The Spain Under-21 international last played in May 2025, when he was on loan at Las Palmas, and is about to enter the final year of his Liverpool contract.

“If you are that young and you’ve been out for so long, the only thing you need is playing time,” former Reds boss Arne Slot said ahead of the 2024/25 season, which Bajcetic began on loan at Red Bull Salzburg and ended in Spain. “He could have playing time over here, but we’ve got six or seven very good midfielders, so his playing time here will always be more limited than we expect him to play at Salzburg.”

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The watchdog previously said it was probing allegations that officers provided “false and misleading information” to the families following complaints about the standard of the investigation, with four serving officers, including a commander and a detective chief inspector, being investigated for gross misconduct.

The Summit Indoor Adventure Centre, located next to the Selby Leisure and Wellbeing Hub in Scott Road, will welcome its first visitors in six years this summer.

The centre, which opened in May 2016, was forced to close due to Covid-19 restrictions.

It became a vital vaccinations site, with up to 5,000 people in attendance each week, but had lain vacant ever since.

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This changed, however, after a lease for the site was agreed with Curly Pepper Trading Ltd – who plan on revitalising the centre, which is set to include a climbing wall, bowling lanes and two premium indoor padel courts.

The Summit Indoor Adventure Centre, located next to the Selby Leisure and Wellbeing Hub in Scott Road, will welcome its first visitors in six years (Image: North Yorkshire Council)

The company operates seven other indoor adventure parks across the UK and will open the courts up to school and community groups to encourage young people to get into the sport.

North Yorkshire Council inherited the building from the former Selby District Council following local government reorganisation in March 2023.

Since then, significant work has taken place to secure a tenant and bring the facility back into active community use.

Speaking about this, the council’s executive member for open to business, Cllr Mark Crane, whose responsibilities include the visitor economy and regeneration, said: “This is welcome news, and I’m pleased that this facility is being brought back into community use.

“This is one of a number of vacant venues that we inherited following the launch of this council, and we have been actively working to secure a new tenant that can deliver benefits for the community and the local economy.

“By encouraging investment and regeneration, we can hopefully attract more people into our town centres who are likely to spend money in other shops and venues, while also providing local employment opportunities.”

“We’re incredibly excited to be bringing The Summit back to life” (Image: North Yorkshire Council)

Selby and Kippax MP, Keir Mather, said he met with the council’s chief executive, Richard Flinton, after setting up a petition to discuss the reopening of the centre.

Mr Mather subsequently wrote to the Chairman of Sport England about the lease details.

In a statement, he said: “This is fantastic news for Selby.

“I know it will be welcomed by thousands of local families. Local parents have been clear that they want to see this space brought back into use and I know it will make a real difference for children across our area.”

With the lease now signed, Curly Pepper will be looking to renovate the venue with the aim of opening its doors in time for the summer holidays.

The company’s compliance and technical director, Liam Caffrey, said: “We’re incredibly excited to be bringing The Summit back to life.

“We’re delighted to be investing in the site and giving many of its existing attractions a new lease of life for the local community to enjoy once again.

“The return of the bowling lanes, climbing walls and soft play is just the start, and we’re equally excited to introduce Vogue Padel as part of the next phase of the development.

“We can’t wait to welcome customers through the doors and become part of the Selby community.”