Full Breakdown
Operation Branchform: Nicola Sturgeon's Investigation and the Decision Not to Charge
6/23/2026, 11:02:41 PM
Investigation Overview
Operation Branchform, launched by Police Scotland in July 2021, probed SNP finances after donor-money complaints. In early 2023 the focus shifted to alleged embezzlement by former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, who admitted diverting £400,310.65 and purchasing a £124,000 motorhome and other items with funds.
Timeline & Key Figures
- July 2021 – Operation Branchform began.
- April 2023 – Police searched Sturgeon’s Glasgow home and SNP headquarters.
- 11 June 2023 – Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon was arrested, gave a “no comment” interview, and was released without charge.
- Summer 2023 – Her solicitor Aamer Anwar submitted a detailed written statement to Police Scotland and the Crown Office.
- 9 August 2024 – Police sent a report to the Crown Office seeking advice.
- March 2025 – The Crown Office announced Sturgeon would face no further action; Murrell later received a five-year-plus prison term.
Actors include Sturgeon, Murrell, solicitor Aamer Anwar, Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston (Police Scotland) and the Crown Office & Procurator Fiscal Service.
Official Statements & Responses
Police said Sturgeon’s written statement addressed only “some points,” leaving questions unanswered. Crown Office concluded there was insufficient admissible evidence to prosecute. Sturgeon maintains she “fully cooperated” and that police never asked for clarification after her submission. Anwar called the Crown’s request for comment “disgraceful and beyond outrageous.”
Criticism & Opposition
Senior officers questioned Sturgeon’s claim of no memory of the motorhome, arguing a 24-ft vehicle would have been clearly visible. The discrepancy over the statement’s completeness and the motorhome’s visibility remains unresolved.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Police reports state Sturgeon’s written statement covered only some points, while Sturgeon claims it answered all questions and that no further clarification was requested. Officers also dispute her claim of no memory of the motorhome, saying its size would make it obvious.
Verbatim Quotes
- “‘The next thing I heard from the police was that I had been cleared and no action has been taken against me.” — Nicola Sturgeon, BBC interview.
- “Ms Sturgeon finds it disgraceful and beyond outrageous that she is being asked to comment on so called ‘background’ briefings by the Police/Crown.” — Aamer Anwar, solicitor.
- “Her lawyer Aamer Anwar said: ‘Had there been any evidence whatsoever of criminality against Ms Sturgeon, there can be no doubt that this gold-plated investigation would have led to Ms Sturgeon being charged and prosecuted.’ Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston of Police Scotland said: ‘What she knew or didn’t know about her husband’s criminality is a question for Nicola Sturgeon.’” — Assistant Chief Constable Stuart Houston, Police Scotland.
What’s Next
Calls for a public inquiry into SNP financial controls continue; an internal review is slated for 2026. The decision not to charge Sturgeon remains a focal point in debates over political accountability and the evidentiary standards required for prosecution.
