Operation Branchform: Timeline of police probe into SNP finances

Investigation dates back to 2021 claims ‘ring-fenced’ indyref2 campaign money used for other things

Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell (PA)

SNP treasurer Colin Beattie has been arrested in connection with a police investigation into the party’s finances, the latest development in saga engulfing the party in power in Scotland.

It follows the arrest of chief executive Peter Murrell, Nicola Sturgeon’s husband, in connection with a Police Scotland probe. He was later released without charge pending further inquiries.

The probe into £660,000 raised specifically for Scottish independence campaigning was launched after it was alleged money was diverted from the “ring-fenced” fund – sparking the exit of senior people from the SNP.

The Independent takes a closer look at how the story of the finance inquiry and the arrests have unfolded:

July 2021 – Investigation launched

Police Scotland launched an investigation into potential criminality in the SNP’s fundraising after claims around £660,000 raised since 2017 for a second independence referendum campaign was spent on other things.

In the months preceding the announcement of the probe, three senior figures – including SNP treasurer Douglas Chapman, SNP MP Joanna Cherry – quit the party’s National Executive Committee (NEC).

Mr Chapman had complained that a lack of transparency about the finances had prevented him carrying out “fiduciary duties”. Police had initially said it was assessing complaints of irregularity.

May 2022–Operation Branchform

It emerges that the Police Scotland probe has been codenamed Operation Branchform. Criminal ­complaints from at least 19 people were received by detectives to date, according to the Daily Record.

Sean Clerkin, the ­campaigner who made the first formal ­complaint, called on police to “step up” their inquiries.

The home of Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon has been raided (PA Wire)

December 2022 – Murrell loan

It emerges that Mr Murrell gave a personal loan of £107,620 to the SNP in June 2021.

The chief executive gave the SNP the loan to help it out with a “cash flow” issue after the last Holyrood election, the party said.

The loan came the day after a SNP leadership meeting discussed the funding being looked at by Police Scotland, according to The Herald.

No interest was being charged by Mr Murrell and £47,620 was repaid in two instalments in August and October of 2021, according to Electoral Commission records.

Nicola Sturgeon with husband Peter Murrell (PA)

February 2023 – Sturgeon resigns

Nicola Sturgeon resigns as SNP leader, saying that the pressures of the job had become “very difficult” after eight years in charge.

Grilled about the police investigation in March, soon after she resigned, Ms Sturgeon indicated she had not been interviewed by police.

However, senior SNP figures were reportedly interviewed by police detectives in the days before she announced her exit, amid the ongoing probe – codenamed Operation Branchform.

Mr Chapman was among those interviewed in connection with the probe into claims of “missing” ring-fenced referendum cash, according to Scotland’s Sunday Mail.

Nicola Sturgeon resigned in February (PA)

March 2023 – Murrell resigns

Mr Murrell resigns as SNP chief executive, following a row over transparency about party membership numbers and calls from party figures to make way after the departure of Ms Sturgeon.

SNP media chief Murray Foote had quit after journalists were misled about the true membership figures, for which Mr Murrell took responsibility.

The newly-elected SNP leader Humza Yousaf defended Mr Murrell at the time of his departure, saying he didn’t know why anyone would “demand” to get rid of someone who had “won countless elections”.

Police Scotland officers raid SNP headquarters (PA)

April 2023 – Murrell arrest

Ms Sturgeon’s husband is arrested. Police Scotland said a 58-year-old man – understood to be Mr Murrell – is in custody and is being questioned by detectives.

Officers are also carrying out searches at a number of addresses as part of the investigation – including the South Lanarkshire home of Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell and SNP headquarters in Edinburgh.

A luxury campervan was later seized by police investigating the SNP’s finances. The motorhome reportedly taken from Mr Murrell’s mother’s driveway in Fife was said by insiders to have been bought for use as a SNP “battle bus”.

April 2023 – Leaked Sturgeon emails and video

Mr Yousaf faces calls to suspend Ms Sturgeon from the SNP following claims police are investigating attempts to shut down scrutiny of party finances.

Detectives are investigating the party’s finances have been handed emails showing Ms Sturgeon quashed the idea of a fundraising manager in June 2021, according to Scotland’s Sunday Mail.

The newspaper also published a video in which Ms Sturgeon told the party’s National Executive Committee that there were no problems with the accounts, despite concerns.

April 2023 – Beattie arrest

On 18 April, the 71-year-old party treasurer Colin Beattie was arrested and interviewed by police “in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the SNP”.

Mr Beattie, who also serves as an MSP for Midlothian North and Musselburgh, had held the treasurer’s job between 2004 and 2020, and again from 2021 to the present.