A former Justice Secretary is “deeply disappointed” that the police probe into SNP finances has not been concluded. Kenny MacAskill said Operation Branchform needs to “progress faster and quicker” after Scotland’s top judge suggested there had been a hold up.
Branchform was launched by Police Scotland in 2021 into how around £600,000 of indyref2 donations to the SNP were spent. Nicola Sturgeon was First Minister and SNP leader at the time and her husband Peter Murrell was party chief executive.
Sturgeon was arrested and released without charge in 2023 while Murrell was charged in connection with embezzlement last year. Police issued their findings to the Crown Office in August and political figures are waiting for any developments.
Lord Carloway, who as Lord President is the country’s top judge, recently said there looked to be a “hold up”, while Scottish Police Federation general secretary David Kennedy said the police probe had been completed.
MacAskill, who was SNP Justice Secretary between 2007 and 2014, said: “I share the views of those who are in the frontline and who have served Scotland well, whether it is the Lord President or the general secretary of the Scottish Police Federation. I think something needs to progress faster and quicker.
“I am deeply disappointed at the length of time.”
He added: “I appreciate there is an independent counsel established, but I do think there comes a time when progress has to be made.”
MacAskill, a critic of Nicola Sturgeon, left the SNP and is vying to become the next leader of Alba after the death of Alex Salmond.
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