Friday will mark one year since the first major arrest by police during the ongoing investigation into the SNP’s funding and finances.
On April 5, 2023, officers arrested Nicola Sturgeon’s husband – the party’s former chief executive – before launching a search on the couple’s home in Uddingston as well as the party’s HQ in Edinburgh.
The news that the former first minister’s home was subject to a raid, with police tape stretched around the property and large tents erected in the garden, made headlines throughout the UK.
Humza Yousaf had been First Minister for a little over a week, having won the SNP leadership contest at the end of March.
It wouldn’t be the end though, with Sturgeon herself being arrested in June. That was the third arrest of a party official, following the arrest of treasurer Colin Beattie in April. All were released without charge.
Those arrests came nearly a year after Operation Branchform was launched.
Another year on, it’s not yet known when the marathon investigation will come to an end.
Operation Branchform Timeline
March 2021 – Sturgeon dismisses concerns over SNP finances
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Leaked video shows Sturgeon dismissing concerns over SNP finances
A leaked video appears to show Nicola Sturgeon playing down concerns about the SNP’s finances during a virtual meeting of the party’s ruling body on March 20, 2021.
The meeting was held just months before Police Scotland began its investigation – named Operation Branchform – into the party’s funding and finances.
The former SNP leader is filmed telling members that the party’s finances have “never been stronger”.
May 2021 – MP quits party finance role
Douglas Chapman resigned from his role as SNP treasurer, saying he had not been given enough information to do his job.
Senior figures in the party, including Sturgeon, later disputed his assessment.
Joanna Cherry, a vocal, internal critic of the party’s leadership, also resigned from her role on the National Executive Committee (NEC).
July 2021 – Police open investigation
Two months later, Police Scotland confirmed it was investigating after seven complaints were made around donations to the SNP.
This followed allegations that £600,000 raised for campaigning towards Scottish independence was diverted elsewhere.
iStockEarlier, the police said they were assessing a fraud allegation relating to £600,000 of funds “to determine if an investigation is required”.
The party said, “all sums raised for independence campaigning will be spent on independence campaigning”.
August 2021 – Party accounts acknowledge ‘concern’
As the party’s annual accounts were published, then-treasurer Colin Beattie acknowledged there had been “concern” about transparency over independence-related appeals that had raised more than £600,000.
In a section of the accounts, he discussed money raised by the referendum-related appeals since 2017.
He said that £666,953 had been raised up to the end of 2021, with a total of £51,760 expenditure applied to this income.
The money was “earmarked” through internal processes, he said, though the accounts did not officially record a separate sum.
December 2022 – Loan to SNP emerges
In December, it emerged that then-chief executive Murrell had loaned the party £100,000 in June 2021.
The SNP said this was to help with a “cash flow” issue after the election that year.
Sturgeon said: “The resources that he lent the party were resources that belonged to him.”
February 2023 – Nicola Sturgeon resigns
Sturgeon stunned the political world by suddenly announcing her resignation on February 15.
She said the reason for her quitting wasn’t due to short-term pressures but because she knew in her “head and heart” that the time was right to go.
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Nicola Sturgeon resigns as First Minister of Scotland
During her Bute House press conference, she was asked if she expected to be interviewed in relation to the investigation. She said she did not.
March 2023 – Peter Murrell resigns
Getty ImagesAmid the SNP leadership contest to replace Sturgeon, Murrell announced he was stepping down as the party’s chief executive after more than 20 years in the role.
It came during a row over the party’s membership numbers, which also led to media chief Murray Foote stepping down.
Membership numbers had dropped by about 30,000 in the past year, something the party previously denied.
April 2023 – Peter Murrell arrested as police search premises
Murrell was arrested on the morning of Wednesday, April 5.
There was a large police presence around his home in Glasgow as well as the SNP’s headquarters in Edinburgh.
He was released without charge, pending further investigation, the same day.
But the memory has stayed with those in the party as pictures of a tent and police tape outside the home of two of the party’s most high-profile members were shown across the news.
Getty ImagesApril 2023 – Campervan seized
On April 9, a luxury campervan, thought to be worth about £110,000, was seized by police investigating the party’s finances.
David CardwellApril 2023 – Treasurer Colin Beattie arrested
On April 18, party treasurer Beattie was arrested and interviewed by police.
His role was to oversee the party’s finances.
Getty ImagesApril 2023 – SNP appoints new treasurer
Stuart McDonald was appointed as the SNP’s new treasurer on April 22 after Beattie stood down with “immediate effect” following his arrest.
The 44-year-old MP, who represents Cumbernauld, Kirkintilloch and Kilsyth, admitted it would be a “difficult and challenging time” for the party.
Questioned by journalists after stepping down, Beattie insisted the SNP was financially “in the black” but said the party was a “going concern”.
May 2023 – SNP appoints new auditor
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Humza Yousaf promises more transparency over party finances
The party appointed the AMS Accountant Group on May 3 2023, after its previous auditor, Johnston Carmichael, stood down in September 2022.
Humza Yousaf said he only found out about the previous accountants stepping done after he became leader in March 2023.
There were concerns that the party could miss the deadline to publish its accounts which could have seen the Westminster group miss out on £1.2m worth of funding.
But the SNP managed to file in time.
June 2023 – Nicola Sturgeon arrested
Former first minister and SNP leader Sturgeon was arrested on June 11.
She “voluntarily” arranged with Police Scotland to be questioned as part of the investigation into the party’s finances, a spokesperson said.
Getty ImagesLike the other party figures, she was released without charge pending further investigation.
Upon returning to Holyrood, she said: “The thing that sustains me right now is the certainty that I have done nothing wrong.”
July 2023 – Sir Iain Livingstone says probe has ‘moved beyond’ initial reports
Police Scotland’s then-chief constable Sir Iain Livingstone gave an interview shortly before stepping down from his role.
He confirmed the police investigation, known as Operation Branchform, had “moved beyond what some of the initial reports were”, saying this is not uncommon in financial inquiries.
Livingstone said he would not put an “absolute timeframe” on the length of the investigation but that it would be “proportionate and timeous”.
“Investigations around fraud or potential embezzlement or investigations around the misuse of funds take time,” he said.
“You need to go and obtain information from banks and other institutions.
“We can’t just do that automatically. We need to seek judicial warrants for that, there needs to be a process around that.”
August 2023 – Sir Iain Livingstone says the sooner the probe is done the better
The outgoing chief constable spoke to the BBC in August 2023, saying police are “duty bound” to investigate matters reported to them.
He said: “Our action and our investigation is in the interests of everybody involved because it will clarify facts and deal with evidence and facts as opposed to rumour and innuendo.
“So the sooner this investigation is concluded, the better for everyone involved.”
Getty ImagesOctober 2023 – Finances probe a factor in by-election loss
Following the SNP’s defeat in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, Humza Yousaf said the investigation into the party’s finances – along with the “reckless” actions of recalled former SNP MP Margaret Ferrier – played a part in the result.
He said the party would “regroup” and come back stronger.
January 2024 – Investigation has affected how public views party, Yousaf says
Speaking to a BBC Radio 4 podcast, Yousaf said the police investigation into SNP finances has “clearly” affected the public perception of the party.
He said the inquiry has been “one of the most difficult times” for the SNP and that he must work hard to rebuild trust.
Later, Professor Sir John Curtice said Operation Branchform has also impeded the party’s ability to raise money ahead of the general election expected this year.
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