Sturgeon’s Husband Released After Police Questioning Over SNP 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 released as a police probe continues into the finances of the ruling Scottish National Party (SNP).

Murrell, who married Sturgeon in 2010, stepped down as the SNP’s chief executive last month following controversy about misleading information being given to journalists over the party’s membership numbers.

The 58-year-old was arrested on Wednesday morning in connection with a long-running Police Scotland investigation into the spending of about £600,000 ($749,000), which was raised by the SNP to fund its campaigning for Scottish independence.

He was released from custody the same evening “pending further investigation.”

Officers from Police Scotland outside the home of former Chief Executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP) Peter Murrell, in Uddingston, Glasgow, on April 6, 2023. Robert Perry/PA Media

Three police vans were parked outside the couple’s Glasgow home on Thursday morning, with two uniformed officers stationed outside.

A large blue tent remains in place in the front garden of the property, which has been screened off with blue police screens. The house and garden remain cordoned off with police tape.

Sturgeon cancelled a planned appearance at a climate change event in Edinburgh on Thursday evening, with her spokesperson saying she wanted to “keep the focus of the event on the critical issue of the climate emergency.”

‘Fully Cooperate’

A Police Scotland spokesperson said on Wednesday evening: “A 58-year-old man who was arrested as a suspect earlier today in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party, has been released without charge pending further investigation.

“The man was questioned by Police Scotland detectives after he was arrested at 7:45 a.m. He was released from custody at 6:57 p.m.

“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.”

The former first minister said through a spokesperson that she would “fully cooperate if required” with police following her husband’s arrest.

Sturgeon, who unexpectedly announced her resignation as first minister on Feb. 15, stressed that she had “no prior knowledge of Police Scotland’s action or intentions” in the statement released on Wednesday evening.

‘Incredibly Difficult’

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

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

On Thursday morning, the Scottish government’s Wellbeing Economy Secretary, Neil Gray, was asked about the arrest and the impact it has had on the SNP.

He said: “I think this has been a very difficult time for party members, for activists, for elected members as well. For all of us this is incredibly difficult.

“What we’ve got to do now is make sure that the elements we do have control over, which is our delivery in government, around campaigning and talking to members of the public, it continues to happen.”

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.”

Resignation Linked to Probe?

When Sturgeon announced her resignation in February, she said at a press conference that it was not owing to short-term pressures but rather that she knew in her “head and heart” it was the right time to go.

Asked if she expected to be interviewed in relation to the investigation into the party’s finances, she said she did not.

Amid the SNP leadership contest to pick her successor, Murrell announced he was stepping down from the role he had held for more than 20 years.

It came during a row over the party’s membership numbers which had dropped by about 30,000 in the last year, something the party had previously denied.

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

Sturgeon’s successor Yousaf said on Wednesday that 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.”

But former Scottish government minister Alex Neil said it is “hard to believe” that the probe was not a factor in Sturgeon’s resignation.

He also said Yousaf might not have won the leadership contest if Murrell had been arrested prior to the ballot.

“Humza stood as the continuity candidate. Had this all happened prior to the ballot opening, I’m absolutely sure that the continuity candidate would have found it much more difficult to win,” Neil told the BBC on Thursday.

PA Media contributed to this report.