Why has Nicola Sturgeon been arrested? SNP finance probe explained
The arrest of Nicola Sturgeon on Sunday comes amid an ongoing investigation into the Scottish National Party’s finances.
Ms Sturgeon, who stepped down as first minister in February, is the most high-profile figure to have been arrested in connection with Operation Branchform, the independent Police Scotland probe set up to look into her party’s finances in 2021.
The investigation revolves around the handling of £600,000 in donations, raised in 2017 to fund efforts to campaign for a second independence referendum.
In April, police arrested former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, who is Ms Sturgeon’s husband, and searched the home they share in Glasgow.
Two weeks later, police also arrested Colin Beattie, the party’s treasurer, although both men were released without charge.
Here’s what we know so about the allegation so far.
Why has Nicola Sturgeon been arrested?
Police said on Sunday that detectives had detained a 52-year-old woman as a suspect in connection with funding and finances of the SNP.
A spokesperson for Ms Sturgeon said:”Nicola Sturgeon has today, Sunday 11 June, 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.”
Why is the SNP under investigation?
The investigation, known as Operation Branchform, was set up in July 2021 to investigate seven complaints made around donations to the SNP.
The probe revolves around over £600,000 of money donated to the SNP in 2017, which was allegedly “ringfenced” to be used to fight a second independence referendum.
The party said that “all sums raised for independence campaigning will be spent on independence campaigning” but police said they would investigate whether the money had been diverted elsewhere.
A month before the probe was launched, then-party treasurer Douglas Chapman quit, saying he had not been given enough information to do his job.
Nicola Sturgeon strongly denied wrongdoing at the time, insisting: “Money hasn’t gone missing, all money goes through the SNP accounts independently and fully audited… every penny we raise to support the campaign for independence will be spent on the campaign for independence.”
What has happened so far?
Ms Sturgeon shocked the political world in February when she announced her abrupt departure as first minister after eight years, citing the “toll” the job had taken on her and doubts over whether she could commit to leading a years-long campaign for independence.
A month later, after the party had picked Sturgeon loyalist Humza Yousaf to succeed her, police arrested Mr Murrell and searched a number of properties, including the home he shared with Ms Sturgeon.
Officers were photographed removing boxes from the property, and also seized a £110,000 motorhome from outside a home in Dunfermline belonging to Ms Sturgeon’s mother-in-law.
Ms Sturgeon has since insisted she did not have advance knowledge of the arrest and that it did not influence her decision to resign – while Mr Murrell had been forced to quit the party over an unrelated scandal during the party’s leadership contest.
Two weeks after Mr Murrell’s arrest, then-SNP treasurer Colin Beattie was arrested but was questioned and released without charge. Mr Beattie stepped down from the role following the incident.
Mr Yousaf, who has pledged a major overhaul of the party, disclosed in April that the firm that audits the SNP’s financial accounts resigned six months ago and had not yet been replaced.
He said he had only become aware of this shortly after winning the contest to become SNP leader.
The party appointed a new auditor, the AMS Accountant Group, in May – and was subsequently able to file accounts.
