Nicola Sturgeon's statement to police on SNP finances will not be released, says lawyer

The written statement Scotland's former first minister, Nicola Sturgeon, gave to police investigating the SNP’s finances will not be released, her lawyer has said.

Ms Sturgeon, who is no longer under investigation by police, has repeatedly stated she is innocent of any wrongdoing and was "deceived, misled and betrayed" by her former partner. After her arrest in 2023, she exercised her right to give a "no comment" police interview, later sending a written statement to officers.

The interview was part of Operation Branchform, which ultimately led to Ms Sturgeon's former husband Peter Murrell being convicted of embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP during his time as the party's chief executive.

Murrell was jailed for five years and three months in June.

Ms Sturgeon, who is no longer under investigation by police, has repeatedly stated she is innocent of any wrongdoing and was "deceived, misled and betrayed" by her former partner.

Her solicitor Aamer Anwar said: "Ms Sturgeon's detailed statement produced for Police Scotland was to assist them with their inquiries; not for those who think they could now do a better job than the robust 'gold-plated' financial crime investigation.

"Ms Sturgeon is innocent, as evidenced by the fact that she was not charged, prosecuted nor convicted of any crime.

"Having been exonerated through the proper process, there is no onus on her to now prove her innocence in the court of media opinion.

"Neither Ms Sturgeon's written statement or her police interview will be released."

Read more:
Operation Branchform: The downfall of Peter Murrell

Opponents of the ex-Glasgow Southside MSP highlighted how the former SNP leader earlier said in a media interview that she would not be opposed to releasing her written statement.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: "Yet now her lawyer has insisted that neither her written statement or her police interview will be released.

"The question is - why not? If Nicola Sturgeon has nothing to hide, then why is she so opposed to her statement being published?"

Mr Anwar, has also said Murrell "never had access" to pro-idependence Yes Scotland campaign cash.

The lawyer was speaking on behalf of former Yes Scotland chief executive Blair Jenkins, and issued the statement following newspaper reports which claimed the SNP "tightly controlled" the campaign group.

Mr Anwar said: "All of the income received by Yes Scotland is fully accounted for and it is grossly defamatory to say otherwise.

"There appears to have been a desperate attempt to link Peter Murrell's criminal conduct in the SNP to the financial affairs of Yes Scotland.

"To make it perfectly clear, Mr Murrell never at any time had access to Yes Scotland's accounts."

According to Mr Anwar, Yes Scotland received donations totalling £2,403,976 in 2013, with these identified in the accounts as "other income".

The group had a year-end surplus of £878,978, after operating costs of £1,535,855.

These operating costs included the salaries of Yes Scotland staff, the cost of the group's Glasgow headquarters, and campaign events and publications.

Mr Anwar said: "A balance sheet surplus of £878,978 and income of £2,403,976 doesn't mean that over £1.5m had gone missing or been stolen, rather that Yes Scotland's operating costs were about £1.5m in 2012-13.

"To be clear, there is no 'missing' £1.5m, but what is missing is any explanation as to why it did not occur to those making the allegations that the £1.5m represents spending by the campaign."

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