Nicola Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell, who’s a former SNP chief government, has been re-arrested amid a police investigation into the celebration’s funding and funds.
It comes greater than a yr after Mr Murrell, 59, was first arrested and launched with out cost, which noticed the couple’s residence searched by police and a blue forensics tent erected exterior the property.
On Thursday, Police Scotland stated: “The person, who was beforehand arrested as a suspect on 5 April 2023, was taken into custody at 9.13am and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives.
“The matter stays energetic for the needs of the Contempt of Court docket Act 1981 and the general public are subsequently suggested to train warning if discussing it on social media.
“Because the investigation is ongoing we’re unable to remark additional presently.”
The police inquiry – dubbed Operation Branchform – has been ongoing since July 2021.
Ex-party treasurer MSP Colin Beattie has been arrested and launched as a part of the probe, as has former first minister and ex-SNP chief Ms Sturgeon.
Following her arrest in June 2023, Ms Sturgeon stated: “The factor that sustains me proper now could be the understanding that I’ve finished nothing unsuitable.”
Police Scotland officers searched Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell’s residence final yr. Pic: PA
Pic: PA
The SNP beforehand stated it was “cooperating totally” with the probe and would proceed to take action.
The long-running inquiry is linked to the spending of round £600,000 raised by SNP supporters to be earmarked for Scottish independence campaigning. It’s understood there have been complaints the ringfenced money has been used improperly by being spent elsewhere.
In July final yr, then Police Scotland chief constable Sir Iain Livingstone stated Operation Branchform had “moved past what a few of the preliminary stories had been”.
He stated he wouldn’t put an “absolute timeframe” on the size of the investigation, however that it could be “proportionate and timeous”.
Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell in 2019. Pic: PA
Mr Murrell stepped down as SNP chief government in March 2023 after greater than 20 years within the function.
His resignation got here amid the celebration management contest to switch his spouse after it was revealed SNP membership numbers had dropped by round 30,000 since 2021.
The SNP beforehand known as the stories “each malicious and wholly inaccurate”. Shouldering the blame for the celebration’s responses to the media over membership numbers, Mr Murrell admitted: “Whereas there was no intent to mislead, I settle for that this has been the result.”
Police additionally searched the SNP headquarters in Edinburgh. Pic: PA
Following Mr Murrell’s arrest final yr, the SNP’s headquarters in Edinburgh was searched, and a camper van, regarded as value round £110,000, was seized from exterior the Fife residence of his mom.
Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy stated the re-arrest of Mr Murrell was “a particularly severe improvement”.
The Tory MSP stated: “It is important that every one SNP employees and politicians, previous and current, cooperate totally with Police Scotland.”
He added that “this advanced investigation has been happening for 3 years and it is vital that the SNP are totally open and clear in order that the police can lastly conclude their probe”.
Scottish Labour deputy chief Dame Jackie Baillie stated: “That is one other extremely regarding improvement on this long-running investigation.
“It’s important that Police Scotland is ready to proceed with this investigation with out interference.”
