Nicola Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell released without charge after arrest amid SNP finances probe
PETER Murrell has been released without charge following his arrest this morning amid a probe into the SNP’s finances.
Nicola Sturgeon’s husband was arrested after their home was raided by police investigating party “fundraising fraud” allegations.
Mr Murrel was quizzed as officers searched the property — even checking inside a barbecue.
Cops later confirmed that the 58-year-old has been released without charge pending further investigation.
The early morning raid came after a long-running police probe into the spending cash which was earmarked for Scottish independence campaigning.
It is believed Ms Sturgeon was in the Uddingston home when dozens of officers swarmed in at 7.35am and lifted Mr Murrell shortly after at 7.45am.
The former chief exec was quizzed by police as searches were carried out at the property and Nats HQ in Edinburgh.
The ex First Minister left in a waiting car at around 8am.
Police launched a probe into SNP finances over concerns about what happened to nearly £500,000 raised for a referendum campaign in a 2017 online crowdfunder.
They confirmed Mr Murrell had been arrested as part of the investigation, Operation Branchform.
Search teams set up a tent on the driveway of the couple’s home, while large blue sheets were used to shield the view of the garage and back garden.
Officers appeared to be concentrating their efforts on the garden, even peering inside a barbecue in their hunt for evidence.
A neighbour told the Scottish Sun: “When they arrived, the cops said they were on business to see a high profile neighbour and couldn’t give me any details.
“They started arriving in numbers after that.”
They added: “It’s not without drama living next to them.”
Police also raided the SNP’s HQ near the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh.
Mr Murrell was released later in the evening without charge “pending further investigation”.
Police Scotland said: “A 58-year-old man who was arrested as a suspect earlier today, Wednesday 5 April, 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 after he was arrested at 7.45am. He was released from custody at 6.57pm.”
A spokesperson for Ms Sturgeon said: “It would not be appropriate to comment on a live police investigation. Nicola Sturgeon had no prior knowledge of Police Scotland’s action or intentions.
“Ms Sturgeon will fully cooperate with Police Scotland if required, however at this time no such request has been made.”
An SNP spokesman said: “The SNP have been cooperating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so.”
However, they said that following recent criticism of Mr Murrell’s running of the SNP the party’s ruling body was taking steps to be more transparent.
They added: “At its meeting on Saturday, the governing body of the SNP, the NEC, agreed to a review of governance and transparency.”
Mr Murrell was forced to resign as the party’s chief exec last month amid claims of lies and secrecy during the race to replace his wife as leader.
It came after HQ claimed the SNP had around 100,000 party members, when official figures showed there were actually around 30,000 less — leading to a furious backlash.
Mr Murrell had sparked controversy last year when it emerged he had given a loan of more than £107,620 to the SNP in June 2021.
At the time the Nats said it was a “personal contribution made by the chief exec to assist with cash flow after the Holyrood election”.
After Mr Murrell’s arrest Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said: “There are big questions to be asked of both Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon and, in the fullness of time, I hope those questions are asked.”
Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: “This is a deeply concerning development. We need Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon to urgently state what they knew and when.”
Scottish Tory MSP Donald Cameron said: “Senior SNP politicians must cooperate fully with the investigation into this very serious case and commit to openness and transparency.”
Ms Sturgeon has repeatedly claimed she was “not concerned” about the SNP’s finances.
And she promised that “every penny” of cash raised in online crowdfunding campaigns would be spent on the independence drive.
She has insisted her decision to quit was not due to the police probe or concerns over it.
The Crown Office said it “will continue to work with police”.
It added: “It is standard practice that any case regarding politicians is dealt with by prosecutors without the involvement of the law officers.”
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