Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay has called on the Crown Office to explain why former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was not charged as part of the long running Operation Branchform investigation into SNP finances.
The demand follows the guilty plea of former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell who admitted embezzling more than £400,000 from the Scottish National Party.
Murrell pleaded guilty at the High Court in Edinburgh earlier this week following one of the most politically explosive criminal investigations in modern Scottish politics.
In response, Findlay has submitted an urgent parliamentary question asking the Scottish Government’s law officers to explain the decision not to prosecute Sturgeon.
The Scottish Conservatives say many people remain unconvinced by Sturgeon’s repeated claims that she had no knowledge of Murrell’s actions during the period covered by the investigation.
Russell Findlay said:
“Peter Murrell stole huge sums of cash from SNP members and supporters to bankroll his and his wife’s lavish lifestyle.
“Nicola Sturgeon was arrested during Operation Branchform and the public are entitled to know how and why the decision was reached not to charge or prosecute her.
“So far, no explanation has been given.
“Another key question is around the timing of the criminal investigation, which began in July 2021.
“Peter Murrell was allowed to strike a plea deal with prosecutors just weeks after the Scottish election, the timing of which was hugely advantageous to the SNP.
“Faith in Scotland’s justice system has already been damaged by the revelation that the Lord Advocate passed sensitive information about Operation Branchform to John Swinney.
“It is necessary for parliament to apply scrutiny to these key questions.”
Operation Branchform has dominated Scottish political discussion for years and has placed intense scrutiny on the SNP’s finances, governance and leadership culture during the period Murrell and Sturgeon held senior positions within the party.
Sturgeon was previously arrested and questioned by police during the investigation before later confirming that no action would be taken against her.
The latest intervention from the Scottish Conservatives is likely to intensify political pressure around the handling of the case and the wider fallout surrounding the SNP’s internal financial management.
The Crown Office has not publicly commented on the reasons behind the decision not to prosecute Sturgeon.
