Nicola Sturgeon has been released after being arrested “as a suspect” and interviewed for more than seven hours by police investigating the SNP’s finances.
The former first minister attended a police station “by arrangement” on Sunday morning, where she was arrested at 10.09am and taken into custody by officers as part of Operation Branchform.
Detectives questioned the 52-year-old about “the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party” until 5.24pm, before releasing her.
Police Scotland said she was released without charge pending further investigation, and a report would be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.
A spokeswoman for Ms Sturgeon said: “Nicola Sturgeon has today, Sunday June 11, by arrangement with Police Scotland, attended an interview where she was to be arrested and questioned in relation to Operation Branchform.
“Nicola has consistently said she would cooperate with the investigation if asked and continues to do so.”
The 52-year-old’s arrest comes more than two months after her husband Peter Murrell, the SNP’s former chief executive, was also detained and their home searched for two days.
A luxury motorhome was confiscated from outside the Fife home of Mr Murrell’s elderly mother. He was released without charge pending further investigations.
Almost two weeks later Colin Beattie, the SNP’s then treasurer, was also arrested and released without charge.
This prompted speculation that Ms Sturgeon could be next, as the party’s three registered officers as listed on the front of its most recent accounts submitted to the Electoral Commission were her, Mr Murrell and Mr Beattie.
However, unlike the other two, Ms Sturgeon attended a police station by “arrangement” rather than being arrested at home.
Since July 2021, Police Scotland has been examining the SNP’s handling of more than £600,000 in donations raised in 2017 for a second independence referendum.
Supporters made complaints when accounts lodged with Companies House in 2020 appeared to show the SNP only had £97,000 in the bank, despite the referendum never having been held.
‘Difficult and traumatic’
Humza Yousaf, the Scottish First Minister and SNP leader, said on Sunday that Ms Sturgeon had mentioned “how difficult and traumatic” the last few weeks had been.
However, he told the BBC’s Laura Kuenssberg that she was “in a good place and doing well” when he saw her recently in the Scottish Parliament, where she has kept a very low profile.
Mr Yousaf also defended receiving advice from Ms Sturgeon, saying she had been “arguably one of the best politicians and most impressive politicians Europe has seen over the last couple of decades”.
The First Minister is now facing growing calls to suspend Ms Sturgeon from the SNP pending the outcome of the police inquiry.
‘This soap-opera has gone far enough’
Angus MacNeil, the SNP Western Isles MP, tweeted: “This soap-opera has gone far enough, Nicola Sturgeon suspended others from the SNP for an awful lot less! Time for political distance until the investigation ends either way.”
Craig Hoy, the Scottish Tory chairman, said: “Nicola Sturgeon and other senior SNP figures – including Humza Yousaf – must cooperate fully with this police investigation and commit to full transparency surrounding it.
“The SNP continue to be engulfed in murkiness and chaos. Humza Yousaf must now show some leadership and suspend his predecessor from the SNP.”
Ian Murray, Labour’s shadow Scottish secretary, said: “This is a deeply concerning development and the Police Scotland investigation must be allowed to proceed without interference.
“For too long, a culture of secrecy and cover-up has been allowed to fester at the heart of the SNP. The same culture that leads to police tents in front gardens created the deeply dysfunctional government that is currently failing Scots.”
‘Grotesque spectacle’
Allies of Ms Sturgeon have attacked the police’s conduct, particularly the decision to erect a tent outside their home, with the SNP’s former chief spin doctor calling it a “grotesque spectacle”.
Murray Foote said he was prepared to bet £5 on there being no charges after the investigation had concluded.
However, Police Scotland’s chief constable said the operation was being conducted “with integrity”. Sir Iain Livingstone said he would “fiercely resist” any political interference with the investigation.
He said a “diligent, thorough and proportionate” criminal inquiry was continuing and timescales would be set by investigative rather than political considerations.
It has also emerged that the force consulted the National Crime Agency last year about the long-running investigation, asking it to conduct a review of its work on the case.
An SNP spokesman said: “These issues are subject to a live police investigation. The SNP have been cooperating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so however it is not appropriate to publicly address any issues while that investigation is ongoing.”
Nicola Sturgeon released without charge pending further investigation - The Telegraph
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