Dig dug arrangement soundtrack1/27/2024 Ms Sturgeon's decision to quit last month took Scottish politics by surprise, with the SNP ahead in the polls. Mr Murrell gave £107,620 to the party to 'assist with cashflow' on June 20, 2021, Electoral Commission documents revealed in December. Mr Murrell and Ms Sturgeon have faced questions over an interest-free loan he made to the party. In May 2021 MP Douglas Chapman resigned from his role as the party's treasurer, saying he had not been given enough information to do his job. Joanna Cherry, a vocal internal critic of the party's leadership, also resigned from her role on the national executive committee (NEC). Mr Murrell was the party's chief executive from 1999 until he resigned in the middle of the leadership election to replace his wife last month. SNP accounts showed it had less than £100,000 in the bank at the end of 2019, plus assets of £272,000.Īn investigation was launched in July 2021 after complaints were received. Detectives are looking at claims that the cash was diverted elsewhere. Questions have been raised over what happened to that money after Boris Johnson, as prime minister, blocked the new vote. The SNP is being investigated over donations of more than £600,000 it received between 20 to bankroll a new attempt to split the United Kingdom. Scottish Conservative shadow constitution secretary Donald Cameron added: 'Senior SNP politicians, including Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf, must cooperate fully with the investigation into this very serious case and commit to openness and transparency.' This morning he was forced to defend her surprise departure as SNP leader and First Minister, insisting it was noting to do with the police investigation.īut political opponents demanded answers. Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: 'We need Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon to urgently state what they knew and when.' The extraordinary scenes that have left Scottish politics in a state of turmoil come just a week after Ms Sturgeon handed over power to Humza Yousaf. Officers with spades were this afternoon spotted in the garden of the modest family home the couple share. Police officers, including forensics experts, spent the day going through the family home in Glasgow and the nationalist party's Edinburgh headquarters after arresting Peter Murrell. As the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further.' 'The matter remains active for the purposes of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 and the public are therefore advised to exercise caution if discussing it on social media. A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. 'Officers also carried out searches today at a number of addresses as part of the investigation. 'The man was questioned by Police Scotland detectives after he was arrested at 7.45am. He also failed to declare a personal loan to the SNP of £100,000, something that could breach laws on political funding transparency.Ī statement from Police Scotland read: 'A 58-year-old man who was arrested as a suspect earlier today, Wednesday April 5 2023, in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party, has been released without charge pending further investigation. Mr Murrell has long faced questions over the alleged diversion of £600,000 in SNP donations earmarked for its drive for Scottish independence. Opposition leaders have demanded answers on what Ms Sturgeon knew about her husband's arrest and whether it was a key factor in her stepping down just days earlier.īut in a statement to reporters, a spokesperson for Ms Sturgeon said that she had 'no prior knowledge' of Police Scotland's 'actions or intentions' over the arrest and said she would 'fully co-operate with Police Scotland if required'. In the afternoon, officers could be seen in the back garden, one of whom was carrying two spades, although it is unclear why the officer had the tools. Police probing the party's finances earlier raided the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh and Ms Sturgeon's home, where they erected a large crime-scene tent in the front garden. He was arrested when police arrived at the home he shares with the former First Minister near Glasgow at around 7.35am on Wednesday, and released several hours later without charge. Nicola Sturgeon tonight denied that she quit as Scottish First Minister knowing that her husband Peter Murrell would be arrested as part of a probe into a missing £600,000 in party finances.įormer SNP chief executive Mr Murrell was taken into custody as part of the long-running investigation into how money raised for an independence referendum campaign had been spent.
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