SNP Accused of Obstructing Police in Finance Probe: A Damning Indictment

Police sources have sensationally claimed the Scottish National Party (SNP) was “obstructive” and “unhelpful” during the four-year investigation into party finances, costing taxpayers millions and prolonging the probe that saw Peter Murrell jailed. This explosive revelation comes from the Daily Mail.

The Obstruction Allegation: A Police Insider Speaks

The lid has been blown off the SNP’s alleged cooperation with Operation Branchform, the police investigation into the party’s murky finances. A police insider, speaking to the Daily Mail, has painted a damning picture, stating the SNP was “not just unhelpful, but obstructive” throughout the lengthy probe. This directly contradicts the party’s public stance of full cooperation.

Detectives were reportedly forced to seek warrants for documents, a clear indication of the resistance encountered. The source detailed how the party engaged in “procrastinating” when officers requested crucial information, turning a complex investigation into a protracted battle for transparency.

Millions Wasted: The Taxpayer Burden

This alleged stonewalling by the SNP comes with a hefty price tag for the Scottish taxpayer. The cost of Operation Branchform has now spiralled to an astonishing £3.5 million. Critics argue that this astronomical sum could have been significantly reduced had the party provided information readily and honestly from the outset. Instead, public funds were expended chasing details the SNP allegedly withheld.

The investigation, which commenced in 2021, ultimately led to the conviction of former SNP Chief Executive Peter Murrell, husband of former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, for embezzling over £400,000 from party coffers. Murrell was jailed for five years and three months.

Sturgeon’s Shadow and Unanswered Questions

The investigation also saw the arrest of Nicola Sturgeon herself in June 2023, though she was later released without charge. Police sources indicate that officers considered re-interviewing Ms Sturgeon after she submitted an 8,500-word written statement, but this did not proceed following discussions with the Crown Office. Her lawyer, Aamer Anwar, has confirmed this statement will not be published, leaving further questions hanging in the air.

“Fully co-operated? It was anything but. Nothing could be further from the truth. At each and every turn they obstructed it, and put up obstacles. That is one of the reasons the investigation took so long.”

— Police Insider, Daily Mail

• Operation Branchform began in 2021, investigating SNP finances.
• Peter Murrell was jailed for embezzling over £400,000.
• Police sources claim the SNP was “obstructive” during the probe.
• The investigation’s cost has reached nearly £3.5 million.
• Warrants were sought due to the SNP’s “reluctance” to provide documents.
• Nicola Sturgeon was arrested and later released without charge.

The Real Cost of Secrecy

The SNP’s alleged obstruction has not only inflated the cost of justice but has also eroded public trust. The insistence on a lack of wrongdoing, juxtaposed with police claims of deliberate hindrance, paints a picture of a party more concerned with self-preservation than transparency. This scandal continues to unravel, revealing a culture of secrecy that has left the Scottish public footing a significant bill for a protracted investigation into their own party’s financial conduct. The silence from senior SNP figures on these latest allegations is deafening.

Source: Daily Mail | Breaking Brexit News