Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the SNP and the husband of Scotland’s former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, was arrested at 7.45am this morning in connection with an investigation into the SNP’s finances. Murrell was later released from police custody at 6.57pm without charge, pending further investigation.
Police raided the SNP’s head office this morning. They cordoned off an area outside Sturgeon and Murrell’s home before Murrell was taken into police custody for questioning by detectives. Searches of the property are understood to be taking place as part of an investigation into a ‘missing’ £600,000. The police search is understood to have expanded outdoors, and detectives have been seen in the garden. The police have indicated that searches are being carried out at a number of addresses. The SNP says it would ‘not be appropriate to comment on any live police investigation’ but that ‘the SNP are cooperating fully with this investigation.’
For several months, police have been investigating the SNP’s finances following complaints about the alleged misuse of donations to a fund for independence. Questions have long been circulating about the ‘missing’ money and whether senior party figures were involved. In February, the SNP president Mike Russell denied that the money was ‘missing’ from the party’s accounts.
Today’s arrest follows a tumultuous leadership contest that saw factions within a once impressively unified party emerge and infighting on live TV. First Minister Humza Yousaf said it was ‘a difficult day’ for his party. He added: ‘I obviously can’t comment on a live police investigation. But what I will say is that the SNP has fully cooperated with the investigation and it will continue to do so. Former first minister Alex Salmond told reporters that he was ‘very sad’ for the SNP.
