Robbery of the ex-Prime Minister of Scotland Sturgeon

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The Scottish independence movement has suffered another setback: the husband of recently resigned Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon (52) has been arrested in the context of investigations into the finances of the governing party SNP. Police said on Wednesday they had taken a 58-year-old into custody to question him about “party finances” and were “scouring various locations as part of the investigation”. British media had previously identified the arrested man as Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell (58).

Sturgeon and Murrell’s home in Glasgow was searched. The officers set up a large crime scene tent in their front yard. There was also a raid on the headquarters of the Scottish National Party (SNP) in Edinburgh.

Raid shortly after discharge

Murrell served as general secretary of the SNP for nearly 25 years – until he resigned last month amid a dispute over the party’s membership. The SNP falsely claimed to the media that it had not lost 30,000 members

In the past, the alleged diversion of about £600,000 (about 678,000 francs) in donations had raised questions about Murrell. He had also failed to declare a personal loan to the party of approximately £100,000 (approximately 113,000 Swiss francs) – which could constitute a breach of party funding transparency laws.

Sturgeon surprisingly announced her resignation in February after more than eight years as head of government in Edinburgh – according to her own statements, because she lacked the “energy” to continue. But the Murrell investigation also hung over her like a dark cloud.

Her successor, former health minister Humza Yousaf, 37, denied on Wednesday that Sturgeon could have resigned, knowing the investigation came dangerously close to her. “Nicola’s legacy stands on its own,” Yousaf explained.

party is quiet

The SNP said it was “inappropriate to comment on ongoing police investigations”. She emphasized her full cooperation with the police.

Yousaf made a similar statement. At the same time, however, he distanced himself from everything that could have happened before he became head of the SNP. “I was never an official in the party, I had no share in the party finances,” he said. “With the new management we have the opportunity to provide transparency.” The SNP announced that it had decided to review its governance structure and transparency rules.

Sturgeon initially declined to comment on her husband’s arrest Wednesday. In an interview with Sky News on March 20, she said she had not been told by police whether she or her husband should be questioned about the investigation into the missing donations. In February she also denied any involvement in Murrell’s interest-free loan to the SNP.

SNP delves deeper into the crisis

The opposition in the Scottish Parliament took the opportunity to attack the ruling party. The arrest was “deeply disturbing,” said Scottish Labor Party leader Jackie Baillie, 59. “For too long a culture of secrecy and cover-up has been allowed to ferment in the heart of the SNP.” Sturgeon and Yousaf urgently need to explain what they knew and when.

The arrest plunges the SNP deeper into the crisis. The divisive campaign to succeed Sturgeon had already revealed fault lines in the question of the party’s future. The SNP’s call for a new referendum on Scottish independence was rejected by the British government in London and the Supreme Court.

Recent polls show that only about 45 percent of Scots support secession from Britain. In 2014, when independence opponents were victorious, about the same number were on the ballot. London insists the 2014 referendum settled things for a generation. (AFP)

Source: Blick