FM: ‘All of SNP would welcome end to police inquiry into finances’
First Minister Humza Yousaf has said he would welcome an end to the police inquiry into the SNP’S funding and finances, ahead of the anniversary of the arrest of the party’s former chief executive.
Friday marks a year since the arrest of Peter Murrell – husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon – as part of Operation branch form, police Scotland’s investigation into how £600,000 of crowdfunding for campaigning for Scottish independence was spent.
The inquiry was launched in July 2021, but took a dramatic turn on April 5 last year when Mr murr el l was arrested at the home he shares with Ms Sturgeon outside Glasgow. Police officers searched the house and erected a blue forensic tent outside the property, with searches also carried out at SNP’S Edinburgh HQ.
Mr Murrell was questioned for several hours before being released without charge pending further investigation. The following month the party’s then treasurer, Colin Beattie, was arrested then released on the same basis, and stood down from his post. On June 11, Ms sturgeon was arrested in relation to the inquiry, voluntarily attending an interview before being released later the same day, pending further investigation. She then posted on social media that she knew “beyond doubt th a ti am in fact innocent of any wrongdoing”.
Mr Murrell’s arrest came less than a week after Humza Yousaf replaced Ms Sturgeon as First Minister and in the following days it emerged that a luxury cam per van, thought to be worth about £110,000, had been seized by police investigating the party’s finances.
Asked this week if he was frustrated over the length of time being taken by the inquiry, Mr Yousaf said: “Well, I think people will realise that all of us in th es np would like to see a conclusion to Operation Branchform.
“I think that’s stating the obvious but, of course, it’s up to Police Scotland to determine how long that takes and for them to have the space and time to investigate thoroughly, and I don’t intend to interfere in that. It’s for Police Scotland to take as much time as they require in order to investigate thoroughly.”
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “As the investigation remains ongoing we are unable to comment.”