NICOLA Sturgeon has refused to say her husband Peter Murrell is innocent as she was grilled over the SNP cash probe.
The former First Minister has repeatedly insisted that she has done nothing wrong amid the police investigation.
Nicola Sturgeon refused to say if her husband was innocent
She was quizzed by reporters at Holyrood
Mr Murrell was arrested in April as part of the police’s SNP finances probe, and Ms Sturgeon was arrested earlier this month.
Mr Murrell was arrested in April as part of the police’s SNP finances probe, and Ms Sturgeon was arrested earlier this month.
Asked if her husband – the former SNP chief executive – was also innocent, she told reporters: “Look, I – and before I say what I’m about to say – I’m saying it as a statement of fact, not a loaded statement that you should read anything into one way or the other.
“But in a situation like this, I can only speak for myself, and I am only speaking for myself.
“There is also a difference between me and my husband.
“I am an elected politician, I’m a public servant and therefore there is an expectation, I think a legitimate expectation on your part, that I make statements and to the best of my ability, answer questions.
“Obviously Peter is not in that position.”
On Sunday Ms Sturgeon spoke for the first time since her arrest into the finance probe – named Operation Branchform.
She was arrested on June 11 but was later released without charge pending further enquiries.
The former-Nats leader returned home for the first time one week on from her arrest.
She was dropped off in a chauffeur-driven motor for the brief press call outside her home and insisted she was innocent.
She said: “I am certain that I have done nothing wrong.”
Operation Branchform cops are probing a ‘missing’ nearly £500,000 earmarked for an independence campaign.
It was formed in 2021 after activists claimed the money crowdfunded for the indy campaign was spent on other things.
When Peter Murrell was arrested back in April and the couples home was thoroughly searched.
The SNP’s HQ in Edinburgh was also searched with officers seen taking boxes of evidence out of the building.
And former-treasurer Colin Beattie was also arrested.
But both men were released without charge pending further enquiries.
Peter Murrell
