Nicola Sturgeon is facing renewed calls to release a written police statement she provided amid an investigation into embezzlement involving her husband, Peter Murrell. The former Scottish first minister came under scrutiny following Murrell’s conviction for misappropriating over £400,000 from the Scottish National Party (SNP), a probe known as Operation Branchform.
Murrell, who served as SNP chief executive for more than 20 years during Sturgeon’s tenure as both deputy leader and party leader, was sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on Tuesday to five years and three months in prison. He admitted to embezzling £400,310.65 between 2010 and 2022, with expenditures including a motorhome valued at £124,550 and various luxury items.
Amid ongoing political pressure, Scottish Labour has urged Sturgeon to disclose the details of her police interview. Dame Jackie Baillie, deputy leader of Scottish Labour, stated there is “no legal bar” preventing Sturgeon from publishing her statement and called on her to “do the right thing.” Baillie criticized Sturgeon’s reported reluctance to engage fully with investigators, saying the former first minister remained silent during a seven-hour interview and provided limited written answers.
Sturgeon has maintained her innocence, denying any knowledge of Murrell’s misuse of SNP funds. Following her arrest and police interview in June 2023, she stated that she had “fully cooperated with the police.” According to her legal team, she submitted a detailed written response to the questions posed by authorities. However, sources familiar with the inquiry suggest that Sturgeon only answered a portion of police inquiries, leaving some questions unanswered. Officers involved in Operation Branchform reportedly felt that her cooperation was only partial.
In March 2025, Police Scotland formally ended its investigation into Sturgeon, having ruled her out as a suspect. The force subsequently requested a witness statement from her to assist the inquiry, but reports indicate she declined to provide one. This decision has contributed to the mounting calls for greater transparency.
Aamer Anwar, Sturgeon’s lawyer, emphasized that the former first minister is “innocent of any crime” and highlighted that Murrell alone was charged, tried, and convicted. He suggested that frustration over this outcome should not cast suspicion on Sturgeon.
The controversy has intensified in the aftermath of Murrell’s sentencing, with political rivals and commentators questioning the extent of Sturgeon’s involvement or knowledge of the financial misconduct. Sturgeon and Murrell, who married in 2010, have since separated, and still reside near Glasgow in Uddingston.
As the fallout from Operation Branchform continues, the debate over Sturgeon’s full cooperation with investigators remains a focal point in Scottish political discourse.