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| Nicola Sturgeon’s husband, Peter Murrell, arrested in SNP funding inquiry | Nicola Sturgeon’s husband, Peter Murrell, arrested in SNP funding inquiry |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Police Scotland say Murrell ‘released pending further investigation’ after officers search his and Sturgeon’s home | |
| Peter Murrell, Nicola Sturgeon’s husband, was arrested by police investigating the Scottish National party’s finances in what the new leader, Humza Yousaf, described as “a difficult day” for the SNP. | Peter Murrell, Nicola Sturgeon’s husband, was arrested by police investigating the Scottish National party’s finances in what the new leader, Humza Yousaf, described as “a difficult day” for the SNP. |
| Police Scotland said Murrell, the party’s former chief executive, had been “arrested as a suspect” and taken in for questioning “in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National party”. | Police Scotland said Murrell, the party’s former chief executive, had been “arrested as a suspect” and taken in for questioning “in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National party”. |
| He was later released without charge “pending further investigation” after being held for nearly 12 hours. The force said a report was being prepared for the Crown Office, the country’s prosecution service. | He was later released without charge “pending further investigation” after being held for nearly 12 hours. The force said a report was being prepared for the Crown Office, the country’s prosecution service. |
| Detectives mounted searches of the Glasgow home owned by Murrell and Sturgeon and the party’s headquarters in Edinburgh. The police erected a large tent over the front door of their semi-detached home, where the curtains remained drawn, and searched their garden, with the pavement outside cordoned off by police. | Detectives mounted searches of the Glasgow home owned by Murrell and Sturgeon and the party’s headquarters in Edinburgh. The police erected a large tent over the front door of their semi-detached home, where the curtains remained drawn, and searched their garden, with the pavement outside cordoned off by police. |
| The SNP has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing during the months-long police inquiry. | The SNP has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing during the months-long police inquiry. |
| Yousaf, who succeeded Sturgeon as party leader 10 days ago and was widely seen as her favoured successor, said: “The news this morning, it’s challenging and it’s difficult.” | Yousaf, who succeeded Sturgeon as party leader 10 days ago and was widely seen as her favoured successor, said: “The news this morning, it’s challenging and it’s difficult.” |
| 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.” | 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.” |
| A spokesperson for Sturgeon said she had “no prior knowledge” of the police action, adding: “Ms Sturgeon will fully cooperate with Police Scotland if required, however at this time no such request has been made.” | A spokesperson for Sturgeon said she had “no prior knowledge” of the police action, adding: “Ms Sturgeon will fully cooperate with Police Scotland if required, however at this time no such request has been made.” |
| The investigation was launched after complaints about the SNP’s handling of more than £600,000 in donations raised by the party ostensibly to campaign for and hold a second independence referendum. | The investigation was launched after complaints about the SNP’s handling of more than £600,000 in donations raised by the party ostensibly to campaign for and hold a second independence referendum. |
| It is alleged the money was used instead to help with the party’s day-to-day running costs. Its accounts for 2021 showed it had a deficit of £752,000 and £145,000 in cash. The party stated all the donations were “earmarked” for independence-related campaigning. | It is alleged the money was used instead to help with the party’s day-to-day running costs. Its accounts for 2021 showed it had a deficit of £752,000 and £145,000 in cash. The party stated all the donations were “earmarked” for independence-related campaigning. |
| In a statement on Wednesday evening, the police said: “A 58-year-old man who was arrested as a suspect earlier today, Wednesday, 5 April 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. | In a statement on Wednesday evening, the police said: “A 58-year-old man who was arrested as a suspect earlier today, Wednesday, 5 April 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. |
| “Officers also carried out searches today at a number of addresses as part of the investigation. 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. A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service. |
| “As the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further.” | “As the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further.” |
| Yousaf said he did not believe the police investigation contributed to Sturgeon’s decision to quit in February after eight years as party leader, when she cited the significant physical and mental impact on her of leading the country through the Covid crisis and the relentless demands of being first minister. | Yousaf said he did not believe the police investigation contributed to Sturgeon’s decision to quit in February after eight years as party leader, when she cited the significant physical and mental impact on her of leading the country through the Covid crisis and the relentless demands of being first minister. |
| She had refused to respond directly to a question after her resignation statement about whether the police inquiry had also been a factor, but Yousaf said he did not believe it was contributory. | She had refused to respond directly to a question after her resignation statement about whether the police inquiry had also been a factor, but Yousaf said he did not believe it was contributory. |
| “I believe her very much when she says how exhausted she was,” he told the PA Media news agency. “I think anybody who watched her over the course of the pandemic during those daily briefings, day after day, I think anybody could understand how exhausting that is. | “I believe her very much when she says how exhausted she was,” he told the PA Media news agency. “I think anybody who watched her over the course of the pandemic during those daily briefings, day after day, I think anybody could understand how exhausting that is. |
| “So, no, I don’t think [the inquiry] is the reason why Nicola Sturgeon stood down.” | |
| Earlier in the day, the SNP said it had been “cooperating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so”. At its meeting on Saturday, the governing body of the SNP, the national executive committee, agreed to a review of governance and transparency – that will be taken forward in the coming weeks.” | |
| Jackie Baillie, the Scottish Labour party’s deputy leader, said: “This is a deeply concerning development and the Police Scotland investigation must be allowed to proceed without interference.” | Jackie Baillie, the Scottish Labour party’s deputy leader, said: “This is a deeply concerning development and the Police Scotland investigation must be allowed to proceed without interference.” |
| Donald Cameron, the Scottish Conservatives’ shadow constitution secretary, said: “It is right that due process is followed and any potential wrongdoing investigated thoroughly by the police.” | Donald Cameron, the Scottish Conservatives’ shadow constitution secretary, said: “It is right that due process is followed and any potential wrongdoing investigated thoroughly by the police.” |
| Murrell is widely credited with playing a key role in Alex Salmond’s efforts to reorganise and professionalise the party after becoming its chief executive, enabling the SNP to win the 2007 Holyrood elections by beating Scottish Labour by a single seat. | Murrell is widely credited with playing a key role in Alex Salmond’s efforts to reorganise and professionalise the party after becoming its chief executive, enabling the SNP to win the 2007 Holyrood elections by beating Scottish Labour by a single seat. |
| In the next Holyrood election in 2011, the SNP won an unprecedented overall majority, which helped persuade the then Conservative and Liberal Democrat UK coalition government to agree to authorise a referendum on independence. | In the next Holyrood election in 2011, the SNP won an unprecedented overall majority, which helped persuade the then Conservative and Liberal Democrat UK coalition government to agree to authorise a referendum on independence. |
| Murrell, who was brought up in Edinburgh, had been in a long-term relationship with Sturgeon, who had become the party’s deputy leader under Salmond in 2004. The couple married in 2010, living in southern Glasgow where Sturgeon has been an MSP since the first Scottish parliament in 1999. | Murrell, who was brought up in Edinburgh, had been in a long-term relationship with Sturgeon, who had become the party’s deputy leader under Salmond in 2004. The couple married in 2010, living in southern Glasgow where Sturgeon has been an MSP since the first Scottish parliament in 1999. |
| Under their direction, the party won a reputation for discipline and effectiveness. After Sturgeon unexpectedly resigned as SNP leader in mid-February, Murrell came under heavy pressure from leadership candidates to disclose the size of the party’s membership. | Under their direction, the party won a reputation for discipline and effectiveness. After Sturgeon unexpectedly resigned as SNP leader in mid-February, Murrell came under heavy pressure from leadership candidates to disclose the size of the party’s membership. |
| The party repeatedly denied media reports that its membership had fallen by 30% over the last year, but 11 days before the contest ended, it admitted the party had 72,000 members compared with 104,000 in December 2021. | The party repeatedly denied media reports that its membership had fallen by 30% over the last year, but 11 days before the contest ended, it admitted the party had 72,000 members compared with 104,000 in December 2021. |