Peter Murrell, the spouse of Nicola Sturgeon, who is the past leader of Scotland, has been detained once more by the police amid an ongoing probe into the Scottish National Party’s (SNP) financial activities in support of Scottish independence. Murrell, aged 59, was apprehended at 09:13 a.m., over twelve months since his initial arrest.
On 5th April 2023, Scottish police carried out a search at Mr Murrell’s Glasgow residence, which he cohabits with the ex-Scottish Prime Minister, Ms Sturgeon. He was subsequently let go, with further inquiries pending. The Scottish police have now validated his second arrest.
SNP’s spokesperson abstained from providing any details, stating that it would be unsuitable to comment “at this point”. The arrest falls against the backdrop of Operation Branchform, an investigation centred on scrutinising SNP’s expenditure of more than £600,000 in donations received for promoting independence.
Ms Sturgeon, who held the position of Scotland’s First Minister from 2014 until her resignation in the preceding year, was detained two months after her husband. Colin Beattie, the ex-party treasurer, was also taken into custody. Both Ms Sturgeon and Mr Beattie were eventually released with further inquiries continuing. Ms Sturgeon has categorically denied any misconduct.
An official announcement from the Scottish police confirmed, “A 59-year-old individual has been re-arrested today, 18th April 2024, in conjunction with the ongoing exploration into the Scottish National Party’s source of funding and financial activities.” Officers of the Scottish police are conducting his interrogation.
During the course of the inquiry, a forensic tent was set up in the couple’s garden last year. The SNP’s Edinburgh office was also inspected by the police. A camper van was confiscated from outside the Fife residence of Mr Murrell’s mother.
Craig Hoy, Scottish Conservative chair, labelled Mr Murrell’s re-arrest as “an extremely severe turn of events”. Mr Hoy, a Tory MSP, insisted that “every SNP staff member and politician, both past and present, must fully cooperate with the Scottish police.” Adding that “This intricate inquiry has spanned over three years already. It is crucial that the SNP remains fully open and transparent to expedite the police investigation.”
Dame Jackie Baillie, deputy leader of Scottish Labour, voiced her concerns about this newly emerged development in the protracted investigation. She emphasised the need for the Scottish police to carry out their investigation sans any disruption.