Why have senior SNP executives been arrested and what are police investigating?

Senior Scottish National Party (SNP) executives have been arrested as police perform an investigation into the occasion’s funding and funds.

The inquiry was launched in 2021 however ramped up in April as former chief government Peter Murrell, Nicola Sturgeon’s husband, and SNP treasurer Colin Beattie have been arrested.

Sky News seems into what police are investigating, who has been arrested and what the response has been.

What are police trying into?

Operation Branchform is Police Scotland’s investigation into potential fundraising fraud within the SNP.

Launched in 2021 following seven complaints to police, it’s trying into whether or not £666,953 of cash raised since 2017 particularly for a second independence referendum has been improperly spent on different actions.

Police are additionally trying right into a mortgage of £107,620 made in June 2021 by Mr Murrell, whereas he was chief government.

The mortgage was reported late to the Electoral Commission and two repayments have been made later that yr by the SNP, however there was £60,000 left excellent.

Read extra:
SNP auditors resigned six months in the past
Yousaf ‘did not find out about SNP motorhome till he grew to become occasion chief’

Who has been arrested?

Mr Murrell, 58, was arrested on 5 April and spent almost 12 hours in custody as he was questioned by police earlier than being launched with out cost however pending additional investigation.

The Glasgow house he shares together with his spouse, who was SNP chief till March, was searched for 2 days, with a blue forensics tent arrange within the entrance backyard as officers eliminated giant inexperienced bins and have been seen carrying spades into the again backyard.

Detectives additionally seized a £100,000 motorhome owned by the SNP from outdoors the house of certainly one of Mr Murrell’s aged family.

They searched the SNP’s Edinburgh places of work on the identical time.

Ms Sturgeon unexpectedly give up as chief of the SNP after eight and a half years in mid-February, saying the job “takes its toll on you and all around you”.

She later denied her husband’s impending arrest was something to do along with her determination and stated she had “no prior knowledge” he was to be arrested.

On 18 April, long-term treasurer of the occasion Colin Beattie, was arrested as a part of the investigation.

He took up the function in 2004 and was briefly changed by an inner election in 2020 by Douglas Chapman, who then give up in 2021, saying he “had not received the support or financial information required to carry out the fiduciary duties of national treasurer”.

Mr Murrell took over as performing treasurer earlier than Mr Beattie took up the function once more in 2021.

What have senior SNP politicians stated in regards to the investigation and arrests?

On the mortgage from Mr Murrell, the SNP stated on the time it was raised that it was a normal transaction to assist with “cashflow” following the final Holyrood elections and so they initially didn’t suppose they needed to report it.

Humza Yousaf, who changed Ms Sturgeon as SNP chief, stated he was unaware the SNP owned the motorhome confiscated by police till he grew to become occasion chief.

He additionally stated he had not been conscious the SNP’s long-standing auditors, Johnston Carmichael, had give up in September 2022 and there may be but to be a alternative.

Asked whether or not it was flawed of Ms Sturgeon to not divulge to SNP management candidates the shortage of auditors, Mr Yousaf responded: “Frankly it would have been helpful to know beforehand.

“I believe folks have an affordable query to ask the occasion round transparency. I’ve dedicated to a assessment of governance with exterior enter.”

The SNP has stated it can not touch upon the 2 arrests, with a spokesman saying: “Clearly it would not be appropriate to comment on any live police investigation but the SNP have been cooperating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so.

“At its assembly on Saturday, the governing physique of the SNP, the NEC, agreed to a assessment of governance and transparency – that might be taken ahead within the coming weeks.”

Following her husband’s arrest, Ms Sturgeon said: “The previous few days have been clearly tough, fairly traumatic at instances, however I perceive that’s a part of a course of.”

She said she had not been questioned by the police but would “totally cooperate” in the event that they do need to quiz her.