Officers outside the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh after the arrest of Peter Murrell. The former chief executive of the party was later released without charge pending an investigation. Photo: Lesley Martin/PA. a replacement for the outgoing Scottish First Minister has been found.
Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the SNP, was arrested on Wednesday as part of an investigation into the party's finances. The Scottish Police are investigating some £600,000 in spending on the campaign for Scottish Independence.
This comes seven weeks after Ms Sturgeon announced she was stepping down as First Minister, and just a week after her successor, Humza Yusaf, took office.
Although the Scottish police denied having given her advance notice, the former SNP leader and force chiefs are now facing «big questions» about the circumstances of her resignation and the timing of her arrest.
There has been speculation in SNP circles. that senior party officials had learned earlier this year that the police investigation was nearing a climax. However, arrests and raids were not carried out until the completion of the leadership elections.
The SNP Grandees said both police and Ms Sturgeon had «legitimate» questions about what she was told about her husband's investigation and arrest. They also said there were questions about whether she asked the police to delay it to allow her to resign and appoint a replacement.
Alex Neill, a former Scottish health minister who worked at Mrs. Ms. Sturgeon. The Cabinet Office said: «Police Scotland should clarify whether they were asked in any way to delay this arrest and, if so, why they did so.»
«They should be completely open and honest and let us know if they changed the timing of this arrest in any way due to the SNP leadership election.» and the SNP headquarters looking for clues, leaving the party in turmoil.
A private home in Glasgow has been considered a potential crime scene, cordoned off with police tape and erected in the front yard with a large tent. Police were seen rummaging through trash cans and inspecting a barbecue in the back garden.
Near the house of Nicola Sturgeon, a large blue tent is visible, which the police cordoned off as part of the investigation. Jeff J. Mitchell/Getty Images
Mr Murrell was released without charge shortly before 7pm Wednesday, more than 11 hours after his arrest, pending further investigation.
Members of the Scottish Parliament they also demanded to know whether Ms Sturgeon's decision to announce her resignation in February was any prior knowledge of the acceleration of the investigation. Mr. Yusaf was asked if this was the «real» reason she quit.
Supporters of Kate Forbes, who narrowly lost to Mr. Yusaf, said she could have won if Mr. Murrell's arrest had taken place before the leaders' vote. . They have demanded full transparency from Ms Sturgeon and Police Scotland about what happened in the run-up to her resignation.
Police in Scotland said neither Sturgeon, 52, nor Murrell, 58, were given «advance notice» of Wednesday's arrest. It declined to say whether Ms Sturgeon or any other SNP staff member had asked for a stay of arrest pending the completion of the leadership contest.
Labor said that both Ms Sturgeon and Mr Yousaf must now «urgently state what they knew and when.» ” about the charges against Mr Murrell.
Containers being searched by officers at Ms Sturgeon's home in Glasgow. Andrew Milligan/PA
Since July 2021, the Scottish Police have been investigating the SNP's appeal of over £600,000 in donations raised in 2017 for the second independence referendum.
The second referendum never took place and some donors asked for their money, stating they were told the money would be earmarked for the referendum campaign.
It was later revealed that in June 2021 Mr Murrell had made a £107,620 personal loan to the party to «help with cash flow», which is now also considered part of the investigation.
Last month, The Telegraph reported that police were investigating high-value transactions, including the purchase of cars. Party records show £80,632 in 'tangible assets' described as 'cars'.
On February 12, it was reported that the police had contacted senior SNP figures as they stepped up their investigation. Three days later, Ms Sturgeon announced that she was stepping down as SNP leader and First Minister of Scotland, and a short campaign would be held.
Jim Sillars, former deputy leader of the SNP, said: «I think the public is asking questions that the police should answer.»
«When she was informed of the arrest, was she alerted? Did this affect the date of the leadership election? That's what the public is asking, and it's a legitimate question for the police.»
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Scottish Conservative sources also question police success.
One said: «The investigation into the SNP's finances and the loss of £600,000 has dragged on and is becoming increasingly obscure for those at the top of the party.»
«The public feels this smacks of SNP secrecy and there are serious questions which remain unanswered during the course of the investigation, which is why it is so important that senior SNP officials cooperate fully with the police.”
Scottish Police said on Wednesday: «A 58-year-old man who was arrested as a suspect earlier today in connection with an ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party has been released without charge pending further investigation.< /p>
“The man was questioned by Scottish police detectives after he was arrested at 7:45 am. He was released from custody at 18:57. Today, as part of the investigation, law enforcement officers conducted searches at a number of addresses. The report will be sent to the prosecutor's office and the fiscal service.»
A law enforcement official said no one was «advance notified» of the arrest.
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