Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested in the police investigation into the SNP’s finances.
Police Scotland said she is in custody and is being questioned by detectives.
The force said: “A 52-year-old woman has today, Sunday, June 11, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.”
Ms Sturgeon, “by arrangement with Police Scotland, attended an interview where she was to be arrested and questioned in relation to Operation Branchform”, a spokeswoman for the ex-first minister said.
“Nicola has consistently said she would co-operate with the investigation if asked and continues to do so,” she said.
Why has Nicola Surgeon been arrested?
Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested as part of a police investigation into how more than £600,000 in donations to the party earmarked for an independence referendum had been used.
The investigation – dubbed Operation Branchform – began in 2021, reaching its peak in April this year with the arrests of Nicola Sturgeon’s husband – and former SNP chief executive – Peter Murrell and then party treasurer Colin Beattie.
Both men were released without charge pending further investigation.
As well as the arrests, searches were carried out at a number of properties, including Mr Murrell and Ms Sturgeon’s home – where a police tent was erected in the garden – and SNP headquarters in Edinburgh.
Heavy handed
Some close to the party – including its former head of communications, Murray Foote, and ex-Sturgeon aide Noel Dolan – viewed the actions of police as heavy handed.
But Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone has defended the probe.
“Operation Branchform (the police inquiry into the SNP’s finances) has been a long-going investigation,” he said.
“Police Scotland were asked to look at a number of assertions that were being made – we always do that, it is our duty – then we seek evidence to see if there is any substance in them.
“Then, as matters progress, at an appropriate time we discuss that with independent prosecutors under the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.”
Timeline so far
– May 2021 – MP quits party finance role
Mr Chapman resigned from his role as treasurer, saying he had not been given enough information to do his job.
Senior figures in the party, including Ms Sturgeon, later disputed his assessment.
Joanna Cherry, a vocal internal critic of the party’s leadership, also resigned from her role on the national executive committee (NEC).
– July 2021 – Police open investigation
Police Scotland confirmed they were investigating after seven complaints were made around donations to the SNP.
This followed allegations that £600,000 raised for campaigning towards Scottish independence was diverted elsewhere.
Earlier, the police force said they were assessing a fraud allegation relating to £600,000 of funds “to determine if an investigation is required”.
The party said that “all sums raised for independence campaigning will be spent on independence campaigning”.
– August 2021 – Party accounts acknowledge ‘concern’
As the party’s annual accounts were published, treasurer Mr Beattie acknowledged there had been “concern” about transparency over independence-related appeals that had raised more than £600,000.
In a section of the accounts, Mr Beattie discussed money raised by the referendum-related appeals since 2017.
He said that £666,953 had been raised up to the end of 2021, with a total of £51,760 expenditure applied to this income.
The money was “earmarked” through internal processes, he said, though the accounts did not officially record a separate sum.
– December 2022 – Loan to SNP emerges
In December, it emerged that Mr Murrell had loaned the party £100,000 in June 2021.
The party said this was to help with a “cash flow” issue after the election that year.
Ms Sturgeon said: “The resources that he lent the party were resources that belonged to him.”
– February 2023 – Nicola Sturgeon resigns
Nicola Sturgeon stunned the political world by suddenly announcing her resignation on February 15.
She said this was not in relation to short-term pressures but because she knew in her “head and heart” that the time was right to go.
During her Bute House press conference, she was asked if she expected to be interviewed in relation to the investigation. She said she did not.
– March 2023 – Peter Murrell resigns
Amid the SNP leadership contest to replace Ms Sturgeon, Mr 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 also led to media chief Murray Foote stepping down.
Membership numbers had dropped by about 30,000 in the last year, something the party previously denied.
– April 2023 – Murrell arrested as police search premises
Mr Murrell was arrested on the morning of Wednesday April 5.
There was a large police presence around his home in Glasgow as well as the SNP’s headquarters in Edinburgh.
He was released without charge, pending further investigation, the same day.
– April 2023 – Camper van seized
On April 9, a luxury camper van was seized by police investigating the party’s finances, thought to be worth around £110,000.
– April 2023 – Treasurer arrested
On April 18, party treasurer Mr Beattie was arrested and interviewed by police.
His role is to oversee the party’s finances.
– April 2023 – SNP appoints new treasurer
Stuart McDonald MP was appointed as the SNP’s new treasurer on April 22 after Mr Beattie stood down with “immediate effect” following his arrest.
The 44-year-old, who represents Cumbernauld, Kirkintilloch and Kilsyth, admitted it would be a “difficult and challenging time” for the party.
– May 2023 – SNP appoints new auditors
The party appointed the AMS Accountant Group on May 3 2023, after their previous auditors Johnston Carmichael stood down in September 2022.
The party was subsequently able to file accounts prior to a crucial deadline which may have seen the Westminster group miss out on £1.2 million worth of funding.
– June 2023 – Nicola Sturgeon arrested
Former first minister and SNP leader Ms Sturgeon was arrested on June 11.
She “voluntarily” arranged with Police Scotland to be questioned as part of the investigation into the party’s finances, a spokesperson said.
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