Police investigation into Scottish National Party finances costs over £2 million
Stay on top of the latest political news with our View from Westminster newsletterGet the latest political headlines with our free emailGet the latest political headlines with our free emailPolice Scotland has incurred costs exceeding £2 million in its ongoing investigation into the Scottish National Party’s finances, a probe that has already led to high-profile arrests.Operation Branchform, launched in 2021 to scrutinise the SNP’s funding, had accumulated a bill of £2,173,089 by 30 April, according to figures released in response to a freedom of information request. This sum does not account for pension contributions or expenses accrued by the Crown Office.Among those implicated in the inquiry is Peter Murrell, the husband of Nicola Sturgeon, who has been charged with allegedly embezzling nearly £460,000 from the party. The former SNP chief executive is scheduled to appear in court on Monday. Over £100,000 of the investigation’s total cost, specifically £100,498, has been spent on overtime for officers since the inquiry began five years ago.Scottish Labour has voiced strong criticism, arguing that the investigation places additional financial strain on the country’s national police force. Pauline McNeill, the party’s justice spokeswoman, stated: "Given the dire state of the country’s finances as a result of SNP incompetence, the SNP must urgently clarify whether they intend to make any cuts to Police Scotland budgets in the years ahead."Nicola Sturgeon and Peter Murrell announced their intention to divorce last year (Andrew Milligan/PA) (PA Archive)Ms McNeill added: "It cannot be the case that financial pressures are further heaped on the service as a result of the negligence of ministers, or because money has had to be spent investigating allegations of SNP fraud. Taxpayers should not have to foot the bill due to the actions of senior SNP figures, with our communities less safe due to any potential decline in officer numbers."She urged the incoming Justice Secretary, Neil Gray, to heed warnings about the force’s financial situation and called on Ivan McKee, the new Public Service Reform Secretary, to clarify if his role would necessitate "brutal cuts" to public services, including policing.In response, a spokesperson for the Scottish Government affirmed: "We are providing record funding of over £1.7 billion for policing in 2026-27, a 5 per cent increase compared to 2025-26." They highlighted that Scotland maintains more officers per capita than England and Wales, adding that the Chief Constable has confirmed the budget allocation will allow her to prioritise frontline services and maintain officer numbers at 16,500 in the coming year.
