Peter Murrell arrest latest: Nicola Sturgeon's home raided as Humza Yousaf breaks silence | The Sun
POLICE have swarmed Nicola Sturgeon's home as her husband has been arrested.
Former SNP chief Peter Murrell has been nicked today as officers continnue to investigate the party's finances.
Images show police at the scene in Uddingston, Lanarkshire, this morning.
We told how Nats chiefs have been under investigation over the past 18 months after questions over nearly £500,000 of “missing” cash from an IndyRef2 online crowdfunder in 2017.
Follow our live blog for all the latest news and updates on this developing story.
- Paul Rodger
ALEX Salmond has spoken out after Peter Murrell's arrest.
The Alba Party leader, who was previously first minister, said he was "very sad" about the ongoing investigation into the finances of his former party.
Speaking just metres from the SNP's HQ in Edinburgh earlier today, the ex-Nats leader said: "It's a very live investigation, so I couldn't really comment on the specifics. I led the SNP for a long time, so I'm very sad about what's happening to it.
"We should remember the cause of independence, and the case for it, has never been stronger and that's what myself and Alba are concentrating on putting forward."
- Paul Rodger
POLICE have been searching the SNP's headquarters amid an ongoing probe into the party's finances.
Officers are scouring several premises as ex-party chief exec Peter Murrell was arrested this morning.
A number of police vans were seen parked outside the Nats HQ in Holyrood, Edinburgh, this morning.
No police officers were seen around the building but it is understood to be one of several buildings they are focusing on.
A large number of police van and officers are currently outside the home of Mr Murrell and his wife Nicola Sturgeon.
- Paul Rodger
HUMZA Yousaf has said there will be "concerns" over the SNP's membership after Peter Murrell's arrest.
Mr Yousaf was asked earlier if Mr Murrell's arrest would hurt the Nats in the polls or at a potential by-election.
He said: "It certainly doesn't do us any good.
"People will have questions, there will be some concerns. Our party membership will have concerns too.
"What I can commit to as party leader is that we want to be absolutely transparent."
The SNP's national executive committee agreed to a review of governance and transparency at the weekend.
- Paul Rodger
WHO is Peter Murrell?
The former SNP chief executive resigned from his longstanding position last month.
Mr Murrell, 58, is the husband of recently departed first minister Nicola Sturgeon and, like his wife, was a Nats stalwart.
Born in Edinburgh, he worked his way through the ranks and at one point worked for the office of Alex Salmond, the former party leader and Sturgeon's predecessor, in the Banff and Buchan area.
Murrell eventually replaced Michael Russell as chief executive of the SNP in 1999.
But he left his post on March 18 amid an ongoing police probe into his party's finances.
- Paul Rodger
HUMZA Yousaf has revealed he only became aware of Peter Murrell's arrest after it took place.
The First Minister said he would not criticise the timing of the police investigation into the SNP's finances.
Speaking this morning, Mr Yousaf said: "I won't comment on a live police investigation. 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 around 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."
- Paul Rodger
POLICE have been searching the grounds of Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell's home.
Cops have been combing the garden of the ex-SNP chief executive who was arrested this morning.
Police officers stand in the back garden of Peter Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon's homeCredit: Reuters An officer carries away an Amazon boxCredit: Rex Officers, some wearing blue disposable gloves, were spotted taking pictures and inspecting the green space.
One policeman also carried away a large cardboard Amazon box as searches continue.
- Paul Rodger
A NEIGHBOUR of Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell said she "feared the worst" when cops swooped on their home.
Police are searching the ex-SNP chief's home which he shares with his wife and former first minister Nicola Sturgeon after his arrest.
A local woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said the street was clear around 7am when she took her bins out but soon after police swooped.
She added: "It happened in a flash. One minute there was nothing and the next there was all these police officers.
“When they put the tent up, I feared the worst. You see these things when something awful has happened."
- Paul Rodger
THE Scottish Conservatives have called on Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf to "cooperate fully" with police.
The Tories have spoken out after ex-SNP chief Peter Murrell's arrest this morning.
The opposition party has also demanded that Ms Sturgeon and her successor as first minister, Mr Yousaf, show "openness and transparency" amid an ongoing probe into the Nats' finances.
Scottish Conservative shadow constitution secretary, Donald Cameron MSP, said: "Senior SNP politicians, including Nicola Sturgeon and Humza Yousaf, must cooperate fully with the investigation into this very serious case and commit to openness and transparency.
“While there is an ongoing police investigation into the SNP’s finances, and given that a suspect has now been arrested, it is right that due process is followed and any potential wrongdoing investigated thoroughly by the police.”
- Paul Rodger
POLICE have locked down Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell's home after his arrest.
Cops have erected a large blue and white incident tent and put up screens around the two-storey property in Uddingston, Lanarkshire.
There is a heavy police presence at the home of Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murell Two marked cop vans and a white transit sit outside, while around 20 officers stand guard.
There is also a heavy media presence as reporters and camera crews descended on the quiet residential street after Peter Murrell's arrest was confirmed by police.
- Paul Rodger
POLICE are carrying out searches at other addresses following Peter Murrell's arrest.
Officers locked down the former SNP chief's home and nicked him amid an ongoing investigation into the party's finances.
Mr Murrell, 58, is being held in custody and is being quizzed by cops as officers search other premises.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "A 58-year-old man has today, Wednesday, 5 April 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."
A Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service spokesperson said: “COPFS will continue to work with police in this ongoing investigation.
“It is standard practice that any case regarding politicians is dealt with by prosecutors without the involvement of the Law Officers.”
- Paul Rodger
JACKIE Baillie has branded Peter Murrell's arrest "deeply concerning".
The Scottish Labour deputy leader has spoken out following a police raid at Mr Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon's home.
Scottish Labour's Jackie Baillie has spoken out over Peter Murrell's arrestCredit: PA Ms Baillie has called for officers to be allowed to carry out their enquiries free from interferrence.
She said: “This is a deeply concerning development and the Police Scotland investigation must be allowed to proceed without interference.
“We need Humza Yousaf and Nicola Sturgeon to urgently state what they knew and when."
- Paul Rodger
THE SNP has released a statement following the arrest of its former chief executive Peter Murrell.
The party said it has been cooperating fully with cops and a review of governing and transparency was agreed at the weekend.
The Nats' statement read: "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."
- Paul Rodger
SNP bosses have been under investigation over the past 18 months.
Police Scotland's Operation Branchform was launched in July 2021 amid anger from some activists.
The SNP said the cash raised in 2017 was specifically for a referendum campaign.
It's also claimed a £107,620 loan in 2021 from chief exec Mr Murrell, 58, to bail out the Nats from “cash flow” issues is also being looked at by police as part of the investigation.
- Paul Rodger
NEIGHBOURS have spoken of their shock following Peter Murrell's arrest this morning.
The ex-SNP supremo's car remains in the driveway and all the blinds are drawn at the home he shares with his wife and former First Minister, Nicola Sturgeon.
Speaking to The Scottish Sun, one neighbour said: "The cops arrived around 8.30am and stopped outside my house.
"I actually asked them if I had anything to worry about but they said it was fine.
"They said they were on business to see a high profile neighbour and they couldn't give me any more details.
"They started arriving in numbers after that."
Source: Read Full Article