A police probe into Nicola Sturgeon could detonate a “political hand grenade” that would “change the narrative” of the General Election, a Scottish MP has said.
Nationalist MP Angus MacNeil had urged the Crown Office to give “clarity” on whether they will “hold off” continuing the investigation into SNP finances until after July 4.
MacNeil, who was expelled from the party last year, said that any action taken before the upcoming election would have “huge potential to change the narrative of this campaign”.
The Western Isles MP said that he is concerned for his former colleagues, worried that their campaigns “could get blown off course if any more charges – or indeed any prosecutions – are brought during the election period”.
SNP insiders are concerned about what a police probe could do to the party's election chances
PA
By writing to the Crown Office, MacNeil said he was doing the SNP MPs a “favour” as they themselves would not be able to speak to prosecutors without being seen as trying to influence them.
His intervention comes after Police Scotland revealed that a report had been handed to the Crown Office regarding Sturgeon’s husband Peter Murrell.
On April 14, Murrell was charged in connection with embezzlement of funds from the SNP.
The police inquiry into Murrell - dubbed Operation Branchform - has been ongoing since July 2021.
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Peter Murrell has been charged in connection with embezzlement of funds from the SNP
PAMurrell, who was previously the chief executive of the SNP, has since resigned his membership from the party.
In a statement, Police Scotland said: “The man, who was arrested at 9.13am today and had previously been arrested as a suspect on April 5, 2023, was charged at 6.35pm after further questioning by Police Scotland detectives investigating the funding and finances of the party."
Police Scotland is investigating whether £660,000 raised by the SNP for a second independence referendum was spent on other things. The investigation has cost taxpayers more than £1million.
MacNeil, who was one of the SNP’s longest standing MPs, is seeking to stand again as an independent candidate.
Angus MacNeil was expelled from the party last year
PAContacting the Crown Office, he wrote: “I am writing to seek clarity because of the potential political hand grenade of more possible charges resulting from this investigation,” he said.
“It has the huge potential to change the narrative of this campaign. Will the Crown Office hold off until after July 4 as a result?
“I am quite concerned for SNP friends on the mainland. Because I am no longer a SNP MP I can solicit the information that they perhaps can’t ask for.
“I am doing a favour for those campaigns that could get blown off course if any more charges – or indeed any prosecutions – are brought during the election period.”