Operation Branchform

Operation Branchform is a Police Scotland investigation into possible fundraising fraud in the Scottish National Party.[1][2] The investigation was launched in July 2021 following seven complaints.[3][4]

The investigation is over whether £666,953 raised since 2017 specifically for a Scottish independence campaign was in part improperly spent by the SNP on other activities.[3] The SNP denies any wrongdoing. The police have also been asked to look at a loan of £107,620 made in June 2021 by Peter Murrell, the SNP's chief executive at the time and husband to Nicola Sturgeon, the SNP's party leader and First Minister of Scotland at the time, after a party meeting discussed the funding being looked at by the police.[4][5] The loan was reported late to the Electoral Commission.[6] There were calls for Murrell to stand down because of the investigation.[7]

In February 2023, it was reported that the police plan to speak to key witnesses within the party.[8]

On 5 April 2023, Murrell was arrested by Police Scotland in connection with the investigation, with the police saying they were conducting searches at a number of addresses. The police searched Murrell and Sturgeon's private residence in Glasgow, including the garden, and were also at the SNP’s headquarters in Edinburgh.[9][10] After questioning, Murrell was released without charge.[11]