Nicola Sturgeon's husband arrested in SNP finances investigation

Police Scotland say a 58-year-old man, understood to be Peter Murrell, is in custody and being questioned by detectives

Left: Nicola Sturgeon with husband Peter Murrell. Right: Police officers outside the couple's home. AP / PA

The husband of Scotland's former first minister Nicola Sturgeon has been arrested in connection with a police investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party (SNP).

Police Scotland said a 58-year-old man, understood to be Peter Murrell, was in custody and being questioned by detectives.

Officers are carrying out searches at several addresses as part of the investigation, including the couple's home in Glasgow and the SNP party's headquarters in Edinburgh.

The police investigation is looking into what happened to more than £600,000 ($748,920) raised by Scottish independence campaigners in 2017, which was supposed to have been ring-fenced for spending on that issue but was missing from party's filed accounts.

A Police Scotland statement said: "A 58-year-old man has today, Wednesday, April 5, 2023, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.

"The man is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives.

"Officers are also carrying out searches at a number of addresses as part of the investigation.

"A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

"The matter is 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."

Mr Murrell resigned as SNP chief executive last month amid reports that members of the party's National Executive Committee (NEC) had threatened a vote of no confidence.

In a statement released after his arrest, the SNP said it would not be commenting on the investigation.

It said: "Clearly it would not be appropriate to comment on any live police investigation but the SNP have been co-operating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so.

"At its meeting on Saturday, the governing body of the SNP, the NEC, agreed to a review of governance and transparency — that will be taken forward in the coming weeks."

Meanwhile, the SNP's political opponents called for full transparency from new Scottish First Minister, Humza Yousaf, and former leader Ms Sturgeon.

Scottish Labour's deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: "This is a deeply concerning development and the Police Scotland investigation must be allowed to proceed without interference."

She continued: "We need Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon to urgently state what they knew and when."

Mr Yousaf said he became aware of Mr Murrell's arrest only after it had taken place.

"I won't comment on a live police investigation," he said.

"Of course, as party leader, I will know the financial state and health of the party.

"As I've already made clear, one of the first things I did was talking to our party lawyers about the current live police investigation.

"I've never been an office bearer in the party, I've not had a role in the party finances."

He added: "There's an opportunity with new leadership to make sure we're being transparent."

Who is Peter Murrell and why did he resign?

Mr Murrell met Ms Sturgeon in 1988 when she attended an SNP youth camp organised by him. They married in 2010.

Early in his career, Mr Murrell worked in the Banff and Buchan constituency office of Alex Salmond and was credited with the party's 2007 election success, which resulted in the first Salmond government.

He has for several months been facing questions from his party over £600,000 ($747,996) of missing money, which had been raised by SNP activists for a second referendum on Scottish independence.

The party said the money would be ring-fenced — but it was allegedly spent instead.

Political opponents urged the SNP “to do the right thing” and hand money back to the activists after the Supreme Court said a second referendum must be approved by Westminster.

According to reports in the Scottish media, police had also been asked to investigate Mr Murrell about a donation from lottery winners Colin and Christine Weir. They later asked for it to be returned.

Rumours have also been swirling about a £107,620 loan to the SNP which Mr Murrell made to the party in 2021, which was not declared until more than a year after the deadline. The loan was said to be to help with “cash flow problems”.

Mr Murrell resigned after questions were raised about the size of the SNP’s membership during the recent leadership election.

The number of members, revealed as 72,186 as of February 15, 2023, was down from 104,000 in 2021.

Murray Foote, the SNP’s communications chief, had previously described reports of the drop as “inaccurate” and “drivel” — but later said he had been “acting in good faith” once it had been confirmed.

Mr Murrell was blamed for having misinformed Mr Foote and resigned as SNP's chief executive ahead of a vote of no-confidence.

In a statement, Mr Murrell said: “Responsibility for the SNP's responses to media queries about our membership number lies with me as chief executive.

“While there was no intent to mislead, I accept that this has been the outcome. I have therefore decided to confirm my intention to step down as chief executive with immediate effect.”

At the time, Scottish Conservative chairman Craig Hoy MSP said there were "outstanding questions" for Mr Murrell to answer over the money missing from SNP accounts.

He said: “Peter Murrell’s resignation is long overdue — but there remain serious questions for him to answer, not least over the missing £600,000 from party accounts.”

His resignation came fewer than 10 days before the conclusion of the SNP leadership contest, which was won by Mr Yousaf.

He replaced Ms Sturgeon, who resigned in February after more than eight years in the role, saying she knew in "her head and in her heart" it was time to go.

At a hastily arranged press conference at her official residence of Bute House in Edinburgh, Ms Sturgeon said the job had taken its toll on her as a human being.

"Since my very first moments in the job I have believed a part of serving well would be to know almost instinctively when the time is right to make way for someone else," she said.

"In my head and in my heart I know that time is now. That it's right for me, for my party and my country."