Sturgeon defends 'no comment' police interview after SNP funds probe arrest

PA Media

Nicola Sturgeon's lawyer has defended her decision to answer "no comment" to detectives' questions following her arrest as part of a probe into SNP finances.

The Scottish Sun reported on Tuesday that the former first minister of Scotland "sat in silence for hours" at Falkirk police station following her arrest on 11 June 2023 during Operation Branchform.

Sturgeon's solicitor Aamer Anwar said the answer was standard legal advice and rejected claims it hindered the investigation which this week resulted in the conviction of her estranged husband Peter Murrell for embezzlement.

Anwar added that Sturgeon had later provided a "detailed written response" to Police Scotland questions.

Murrell, the former chief executive of the SNP, admitted on Monday that he had embezzled more than £400,000 from the party over a 12-year-period.

He spent the money on a motorhome, cars and hundreds of other items including jewellery and luxury items, some of which were gifted to Sturgeon.

Anwar, in a statement to Press Assocation news agency, said Sturgeon reaffirmed her position that she had no knowledge or suspicion whatsoever that personal items had been purchased using SNP funds.

Reuters

Murrell was first arrested and questioned on 5 April 2023, with Sturgeon arrested two months later in connection with the inquiry.

The former SNP leader attended a police interview by prior arrangement, was taken into custody, questioned by detectives and released without charge seven hours later.

In the days after Murrell's arrest, Sturgeon had said she would "fully co-operate with the police" if they requested an interview.

Anwar said her decision to subsequently answer "no comment" to detectives was on the "standard" advice of a senior lawyer.

"In relation to the advice tendered to Ms Sturgeon to make no comment, this was by her solicitor, formerly a very senior crown counsel at Crown Office," he said.

He said Sturgeon had later insisted on providing a "detailed written response" to Police Scotland questions.

"The idea that a highly resourced inquiry was hampered by a no comment interview is nonsensical," he 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.

"To make it abundantly clear it was not the role of the First Minister to sign off accounts that was for the party treasurer.

"There appears to be an assumption that as FM, when Mr Murrell was busy buying multiple pens or pepper pots etc she was with him, Ms Sturgeon was not as unsurprisingly she was busy with other matters."

The SNP accounts for 2021, when Murrell was still misusing party funds, declare that they have been approved by party officers, listed as Sturgeon, Murrell and party treasurer Colin Beattie.

Sturgeon has always maintained her innocence, and was told last year that she was no longer under investigation by police.

PA Media

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay, however, has criticised Sturgeon's decision not to answer questions during the 2023 police interview, describing her "right to silence" as a "tactic of organised crime".

Posting on X, Findlay had said: "Nicola Sturgeon spent hours saying 'no comment' when questioned by police (that's what organised criminals do).

Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast Findlay said: "Nicola Sturgeon gave a 'no comment' answer to every single question put to her by Police Scotland.

"This is someone who told the public at the time she co-operated fully with police. I think that is at odds with that."

Anwar said a "no comment" response was "standard advice offered on a regular basis in our jurisdiction" and that Findlay's criticism was "deeply worrying".

Sturgeon and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie, who was also arrested, were informed by police in March 2025 that they were no longer under investigation.

Murrell appeared in court that same month charged with embezzlement and he pleaded guilty during a court hearing in Edinburgh on Monday.

He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month.