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NIC IN CLEAR
Nicola Sturgeon CLEARED over SNP finance probe as husband appears in court
It comes after the former First Minister was arrested and released amid the cop probe into missing SNP funds
NICOLA Sturgeon has been cleared amid the ongoing probe into the SNP's finances.
The former First Minister, 54, was previously arrested and questioned by cops as part of the investigation.
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But today it emerged the ex-Nats leader will face no further action from cops and is no longer under investigation.
Police also confirmed investigations into ex-SNP treasurer Colin Beattie had concluded.
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: "Following direction from the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, criminal enquiries into two people arrested as part of the investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party have now concluded.
"The 73 year-old man arrested on 18 April, 2023, and the 54 year-old woman arrested on 11 June, 2023, have not been charged and are no longer under investigation."
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It comes after Ms Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell, 60, appeared in court charged with embezzlement today.
The former SNP chief executive made no plea and the case was continued.
Beattie's toast to innocence
Ex-SNP treasurer Colin Beattie told how he will “raise a glass” after being cleared of any wrongdoing during the party finances probe.
The Nats’ former chief money man told how he was “very relieved” to be informed he is no longer under investigation even though he knew he had “done nothing wrong”.
The Midlothian North and Musselburgh MSP admitted the two years since his arrest and release without charge had been a “long time”.
Mr Beattie said: “I think it is going to be a really good result for me in terms of I can at least relax and get back to normal family life.
“I’m certainly going to be raising a glass with my wife tonight, that’s for sure.”
And the 73-year-old said he would stand for re-election next year.
He added: “It’s been a hard time for my family, my wife and myself and I still haven’t quite taken it on board.”
Mr Beattie — who worked in international banking before entering politics — compared his arrest to being trapped by fighting in the Middle East.
Asked by journalists if the investigation was the worst thing to happen to him, he said: “No, I was in Beirut actually when I was under artillery fire.
“That was worse.”
Mr Beattie was on holiday when ex-SNP chief executive Peter Murrell was taken in by cops when the house he shared with wife former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was raided alongside the Nats’ HQ in April 2023.
He was arrested then released without charge before finally being cleared by cops today.
Ms Sturgeon was arrested in 2023 as part of the probe but was later released without charge.
Operation Branchform was launched in July 2021 after allegations were made to officers earlier that year about the fate of £600,000 of donations made to the party.
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The long-running inquiry led to Ms Sturgeon and her husband Peter Murrell being arrested nearly two years later in 2023, along with SNP MSP and former long-time party treasurer Colin Beattie.
The police probe was launched into what happened to cash raised between 2017 and 2019 for an indy referendum campaign.
Reaction to Nicola Sturgeon stepping down as MSP
Mr Murrell was initially arrested and released pending further inquiries on April 5, 2023, after being quizzed by officers.
Police carried out dramatic raids on Ms Sturgeon and ex-SNP chief exec Mr Murrell’s Glasgow home, as well as SNP HQ in Edinburgh.
This took place the week after Ms Sturgeon was replaced by Humza Yousaf as First Minister.
Officers were seen carrying out boxes of evidence during the search of Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell's home, where a forensics tent was pitched in front of their house.
They seized various items including a £110,000 Niesmann+Bischoff campervan from Mr Murrell's mother's house in Dunfermline.
First Minister reacts
First Minister John Swinney told of his relief for former leader Nicola Sturgeon and ex-SNP treasurer Colin Beattie after they were cleared during the long-running probe into party finances.
The Nats' chief says it "will have been a very difficult and challenging experience" for the pair after they were arrested then released without charge before finally being told they are no longer under investigation.
He says the SNP is now in a "clearer position" — suggesting it had "moved on" from recent difficulties.
Mr Swinney backed Mr Beattie and former First Minister Ms Sturgeon after her husband former party chief executive Peter Murrell appeared in court charged with embezzlement.
He told journalists outside his Holyrood office: “I know they will be relieved by the outcome of the proceedings today.
"I share that relief for them and I hope this provides the opportunity for both Nicola and Colin to move on from the difficulties that they have faced while this investigation has been under way.”
Mr Swinney says he could not comment on live court proceedings but admitted his party had faced "very difficult times".
He says the SNP will always have "the highest standards of governance and financial control" under his stewardship and pledged any donations received would support its "essential work".
Mr Swinney says the Nats have a "sound basis for optimism" moving forward.
Ms Sturgeon and Mr Beattie were both arrested then released as part of the Operation Branchform investigation in 2023 but were today told they will face no further action.
On April 18, 2023, Mr Beattie was then arrested at his home in Eskbank, Dalkeith, and was also later released without charge pending further inquiries.
On June 11, 2023, Ms Sturgeon was arrested, questioned, and then later released without charge pending further inquiries. She strenuously denied any wrongdoing.
In July, Police Scotland's outgoing Chief Constable Sir Iain suggested Branchform’s scope had been widened and was looking into “potential embezzlement” and “misuse of funds”.
We told in January last year how an update from the Crown Office revealed at that point no decision had been taken about whether charges should be brought - two-and-a-half years after the investigation began.
Ms Sturgeon repeatedly denied wrongdoing or that the probe had anything to do with her announcing her resignation in February 2023.
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Last week, Ms Sturgeon announced she would be standing down as an MSP and would not be standing for election at Holyrood in 2026.
Yesterday, she revealed the cover and title of her memoirs, Frankly, set to be released in August.
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