Sturgeon’s Husband Arrested as Police Probe Scottish National Party Finances

Nicola Sturgeon, then SNP leader and Scottish first minister, and husband Peter Murrell pose after casting their votes in the 2019 General Election at Broomhouse Park Community Hall, Glasgow, Scotland, on Dec. 12, 2019. Andrew Milligan/PA Media

Former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell has been arrested in a police investigation into the finances of the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP).

Murrell, who was the SNP’s chief executive until last month, was taken into police custody on Wednesday and is being questioned by detectives.

Police Scotland has been investigating the spending of about £600,000 ($749,000), which was raised by the SNP to fund its campaigning for Scottish independence.

Officers from Police Scotland stand beside police tape and a police tent outside the home of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, in Uddingston, Glasgow, on April 5, 2023. Andrew Milligan/PA Media

On Wednesday morning, officers searched the couple’s house in Glasgow as well as the SNP’s headquarters in Edinburgh.

It comes just a week after Sturgeon stepped down as first minister and was succeeded by Humza Yousaf.

Following the shock announcement on Feb. 15 that she was standing down, Sturgeon refused to say if her decision was impacted by the police investigation.

Her successor said he did not believe the police probe had any bearing on her decision to resign, saying, “I believe her very much when she says how exhausted she was.”

Scottish First Minister Humza Yousaf during a visit to New Gorbals Health and Care Centre, in Glasgow, on April 5, 2023. Robert Perry/PA Media

‘A Difficult Day’

Yousaf, who took over as first minister on March 29, described the arrest as a “difficult day” for his party.

He told broadcasters: “My reaction, as you’d imagine, much like anybody involved in the SNP, is that this is a difficult day for the party.

“But again, I’d just reiterate and emphasise it’s so important for me not to comment on a live police investigation and be seen to prejudice that in any way, shape, or form.”

He continued, “I think there’ll be concern from the public but, again, there is a live police investigation under way and we will wait to see what comes at the conclusion of that police investigation.”

Party Donations

The police investigation into the SNP’s finances began in July 2021, following complaints about how donations given to the party for use in a fresh independence referendum campaign had been used.

Two SNP MPs had quit the party’s National Executive Committee in May that year, citing a lack of transparency.

But the SNP leadership strongly denied claims the money raised for independence campaigning was diverted elsewhere.

Sturgeon, who was then first minister and SNP leader, insisted she was “not concerned” about the party’s finances and that “every penny” of cash raised in online crowdfunding campaigns would be spent on the independence drive.

The party said it raised a total of £666,953 through referendum-related appeals between 2017 and 2020.

But questions were raised after its accounts showed it had just under £97,000 in the bank at the end of 2019, and total net assets of about £272,000.

It emerged last year that Murrell had loaned the SNP £107,620 in June 2021. An SNP spokesman said at the time that the loan was a “personal contribution made by the chief executive to assist with cash flow after the Holyrood election.”

Transparency Review

A Police Scotland statement said: “A 58-year-old man has today, Wednesday, 5 April 2023, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party. The man is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives.

“Officers are also carrying out searches at a number of addresses as part of the investigation. A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

“The matter is 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.

“As the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further.”

In a statement, the SNP said, “Clearly it would not be appropriate to comment on any live police investigation but the SNP have been co-operating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so.”

The party said its governing body—the National Executive Committee—agreed at a meeting on Saturday to conduct “a review of governance and transparency,” which will be “taken forward in the coming weeks.”

‘Deeply Concerning’

Scottish Labour’s deputy leader Jackie Baillie said, “This is a deeply concerning development and the Police Scotland investigation must be allowed to proceed without interference.”

She continued, “We need Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon to urgently state what they knew and when.”

The Scottish Conservatives urged both Sturgeon and Yousaf to “cooperate fully” with the police investigation.

The party’s constitution spokesman Donald Cameron said, “While there is an ongoing police investigation into the SNP’s finances, and given that a suspect has now been arrested, it is right that due process is followed and any potential wrongdoing investigated thoroughly by the police.”

Alba Party leader Alex Salmond, a former SNP leader turned party critic, said the news was “very sad.”

“I led the SNP for a long time, so I’m very sad about what’s happening to it and, indeed, what it’s become.”

PA Media contributed to this report.