SNP fears Sturgeon and Murrell could be charged in probe into party finances

There are concerns among senior SNP figures that former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell may be charged in the police investigation into party finances. One senior nationalist told the Times the two-year investigation feels like it is “now coming to a head and that these investigations are likely to result in charges being brought.” While Police Scotland has refused to be drawn on a time scale, some opponents of the SNP believe charges could be brought as soon as the weekend. Since April 2023, Ms Sturgeon, Mr Murrell, the party’s former cheif executive, Colin Bettie, the party’s former treasurer, have been arrested and released without charge. Yesterday, Scotland’s chief constable confirmed the police investigation into the party’s finances has been expanded. Nicola Sturgeon was arrested and released without charge (Image: Getty) The scope of the investigation will now include allegations of “misuse of funds” and “potential embezzlement”, Sir Iain Livingstone confirmed. Operation Branchform was initially a fraud investigation. Police Scotland is investigating whether £660,000 raised by the SNP for a second independence referendum was spent on other things. Speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, Sir Iain said: “It’s moved beyond what some of the initial reports were.” When asked why the investigation has taken more than two years, Sir Iain explained: “Investigations into the finances of an organisation, the finances of an individual, are often complex. “Investigations around fraud or investigations around potential embezzlement or investigations around the misuse of funds take time. “You need to go and obtain information from banks and other financial institutions. “We can’t just do that automatically.” He added: “We need to go and seek judicial warrants for that. There needs to be a process around that. So the time that’s been taken, in my judgment, is absolutely necessary. There’s been a prudent, thorough and proportionate investigation carried out.” Ms Sturgeon has said she is ‘innocent of any wrongdoing’ (Image: Getty) Speaking to the Times, Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said the remarks suggested the case was reaching a critical point. He said: “The one piece of good news in the chief constable’s statement was that this SNP psychodrama may finally be over soon. ‘Too much political oxygen has been focused on the internal problems of the governing party, just at a time when the public needs SNP ministers focused on the day job.” Ms Sturgeon has said she is “innocent of any wrongdoing”.