SNP finance investigation 'ongoing' but no timescale yet, Police Scotland chief Jo Farrell says

Police Scotland’s investigation into the SNP’s funding and finances is “ongoing”, the chief constable has said.

Jo Farrell refused to comment on when the long-running Operation Branchform would be concluded by officers.

Police have been investigating the party since 2021 over how it spent around £660,000 in cash raised for independence campaigning.

It has led to the arrests in 2023 of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon, her husband and former SNP CEO Peter Murrell and the party’s ex-treasurer Colin Beattie.

All were released without charge, pending further inquiries, at that time.

In April this year, Murrell was rearrested and charged in connection with embezzlement of SNP funds.

The following month, Police Scotland submitted its report to prosecutors who will decide whether there is enough evidence to prosecute Murrell, who was chief executive of the SNP for 22 years.

Speaking to Sky News on Wednesday, Farrell said she would not reveal a timetable for the inquiry.

She said: “That inquiry is ongoing. We come back to the same point. We have operational independence and we police without fear or favour and without any political interference.”

Pushed on whether Sturgeon or Beattie are still under investigation, Farrell said: “Still ongoing”.

The former first minister stepped down from her role in 2023 just weeks before she was arrested.

Police later searched the Uddingston home she shares with Murrell, which saw the erection of large blue tents and officers taking items from the house.

The SNP’s Edinburgh HQ was also searched.