Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell re-arrested amid police investigation into SNP funding and finances

18 April 2024, 16:06 | Updated: 18 April 2024, 18:57

Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell, who is a former SNP chief executive, has been re-arrested amid a police investigation into the party's funding and finances.

It comes more than a year after Mr Murrell, 59, was first arrested and released without charge, which saw the couple's home searched by police and a blue forensics tent erected outside the property.

On Thursday, Police Scotland said: "The man, who was previously 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 remains 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 at this time."

The police inquiry - dubbed Operation Branchform - has been ongoing since July 2021.

Ex-party treasurer MSP Colin Beattie has been arrested and released as part of the probe, as has former first minister and ex-SNP leader Ms Sturgeon.

Following her arrest in June 2023, Ms Sturgeon said: "The thing that sustains me right now is the certainty that I have done nothing wrong."

The SNP previously said it was "cooperating fully" with the probe and would continue to do so.

On Thursday, a spokesperson said: "It would be inappropriate to comment at this stage."

The long-running inquiry is linked to the spending of around £600,000 raised by SNP supporters to be earmarked for Scottish independence campaigning. It is understood there have been complaints the ringfenced cash has been used improperly by being spent elsewhere.

In July last year, then Police Scotland chief constable Sir Iain Livingstone said Operation Branchform had "moved beyond what some of the initial reports were".

He said he would not put an "absolute timeframe" on the length of the investigation, but that it would be "proportionate and timeous".

Mr Murrell stepped down as SNP chief executive in March 2023 after more than 20 years in the role.

His resignation came amid the party leadership contest to replace his wife after it was revealed SNP membership numbers had dropped by around 30,000 since 2021.

The SNP previously called the reports "both malicious and wholly inaccurate". Shouldering the blame for the party's responses to the media over membership numbers, Mr Murrell admitted: "While there was no intent to mislead, I accept that this has been the outcome."

Following Mr Murrell's arrest last year, the SNP's headquarters in Edinburgh was searched, and a camper van, thought to be worth around £110,000, was seized from outside the Fife home of his mother.

Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy said the re-arrest of Mr Murrell was "an extremely serious development".

The Tory MSP said: "It's essential that all SNP staff and politicians, past and present, cooperate fully with Police Scotland."

He added that "this complex investigation has been going on for three years and it's vital that the SNP are fully open and transparent so that the police can finally conclude their probe".

Scottish Labour deputy leader Dame Jackie Baillie said: "This is another incredibly concerning development in this long-running investigation.

"It is essential that Police Scotland is able to proceed with this investigation without interference."

(c) Sky News 2024: Nicola Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell re-arrested amid police investigation into SNP funding and finances