Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

Police remain outside home after Peter Murrell released without charge

The 58-year-old was arrested then released on Wednesday in connection to a long-running Police Scotland investigation.

Pa Scotland Reporters
Thursday 06 April 2023 11:06 BST
Officers from Police Scotland outside the home of former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP) Peter Murrell (Andrew Milligan/PA)
Officers from Police Scotland outside the home of former chief executive of the Scottish National Party (SNP) Peter Murrell (Andrew Milligan/PA) (PA Wire)

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

Police remain outside the home of Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell after the former SNP chief executive was arrested and then released without charge in an ongoing investigation into the partyā€™s finances.

The 58-year-old was arrested on Wednesday morning in connection with a long-running Police Scotland investigation into the spending of about Ā£600,000 which was earmarked for Scottish independence campaigning.

He was released from custody the same evening ā€œpending further investigationā€.

Three police vans were parked outside the coupleā€™s Glasgow home on Thursday morning, with two uniformed officers stationed outside.

A large, blue tent remains in place in the front garden of the property, which has been screened off with blue police screens.

The house and garden remain cordoned off with police tape.

Ms Sturgeon cancelled a planned appearance at a climate change event in Edinburgh on Thursday evening, with her spokesperson saying she wanted to ā€œkeep the focus of the event on the critical issue of the climate emergencyā€.

The former first minister said through a spokesperson that she would ā€œfully co-operate if requiredā€ with police following her husbandā€™s arrest.

Ms Sturgeon, who unexpectedly announced her resignation as first minister on February 15, stressed that she had ā€œno prior knowledge of Police Scotlandā€™s action or intentionsā€ in the statement released on Wednesday evening.

Later on Thursday morning more officers arrived at the property as police activity continued.

Several were stationed outside while plainclothes officers could be seen entering and leaving the house, one carrying two large rolls of bubble wrap.

One of the uniformed officers was wearing white protective foot coverings while other officers could be seen carrying them after leaving the house. One of the police vans left the scene at about 10.15am.

Mr Murrell stepped down as the SNPā€™s chief executive last month following a controversy about misleading information being given to journalists over the partyā€™s membership numbers.

On Wednesday, a Police Scotland spokesperson said: ā€œA 58-year-old man who was arrested as a suspect earlier today in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party, has been released without charge pending further investigation.

ā€œThe man was questioned by Police Scotland detectives after he was arrested at 7.45am. He was released from custody at 6.57pm.

ā€œOfficers also carried out searches today at a number of addresses as part of the investigation.

ā€œA report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service.

ā€œThe 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.

ā€œAs the investigation is ongoing we are unable to comment further.ā€

It comes after a blue tent was set up in the front garden of the Glasgow house belonging to Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell early on Wednesday morning, with police taping the area off.

First Minister Humza Yousaf, who took over from Ms Sturgeon last week, said the arrest marked a ā€œdifficult dayā€ for the party.

He told broadcasters on Wednesday: ā€œMy reaction, as youā€™d imagine, much like anybody involved in the SNP, is that this is a difficulty for the party.

ā€œBut, again, Iā€™d just reiterate and emphasise itā€™s so important for me not to comment on a live police investigation and be seen to prejudice that in any way, shape or form.ā€

He added: ā€œI think thereā€™ll be concern from the public but, again, there is a live police investigation under way and we will wait to see what comes at the conclusion of that police investigation.ā€

When Ms Sturgeon announced her resignation in February, she said it was not due to short-term pressures but rather that she knew in her ā€œhead and heartā€ it was the right time to go.

During her Bute House press conference, she was asked if she expected to be interviewed in relation to the investigation into the partyā€™s finances and said she did not.

Amid the SNP leadership contest to pick her successor, 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 partyā€™s membership numbers which had dropped by about 30,000 in the last year, something the party had previously denied.

In December, it emerged that Mr Murrell had loaned the SNP Ā£100,000 in June 2021, but the party said this was to help with a ā€œcash flowā€ issue after the election that year.

Ms Sturgeon said at the time: ā€œThe resources that he lent the party were resources that belonged to him.ā€

Following the announcement that Ms Sturgeon will no longer be attending the Climate of Change event in Edinburgh, her spokesperson said: ā€œIn order to keep the focus of this event on the critical issue of the climate emergency and Ambassador Patricia Espinosaā€™s contribution, Nicola Sturgeon has made the decision not to participate this evening.

ā€œShe is grateful to the festival and Ambassador Espinosa for their understanding, and to Mairi McAllan for taking her place.ā€

On Thursday morning, the Scottish Governmentā€™s Wellbeing Economy Secretary, Neil Gray, was asked about the arrest and the impact it has had on the SNP.

He told the PA news agency: ā€œI think this has been a very difficult time for party members, for activists, for elected members as well.

ā€œFor all of us this is incredibly difficult.

ā€œWhat weā€™ve got to do now is make sure that the elements we do have control over, which is our delivery in Government, around campaigning and talking to members of the public, it continues to happen.ā€

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in