Nicola Sturgeon's lawyer has branded background briefings by Police Scotland and the Crown Office as 'disgraceful and beyond outrageous' after it emerged that police wanted to question the former first minister further.
Lawyer's condemnation
Aamer Anwar, representing Sturgeon, issued a strong statement in response to reports that police sought additional questions following her 'no comment' interview. He said: 'Aamer Anwar stated Ms Sturgeon finds it disgraceful and beyond outrageous that she is being asked to comment on so called “background” briefings by the Police/Crown.'
Anwar emphasized that Sturgeon was neither charged nor convicted despite a thorough investigation. 'Whilst anonymous sources have desperately tried to insinuate guilt, it is clear following a two-year gold-plated and robust investigation, Ms Sturgeon was neither charged, prosecuted nor convicted of any offence,' he added.
Background of Operation Branchform
Sturgeon was arrested in June 2023 and questioned for several hours as part of Operation Branchform, the probe into SNP finances. She was released without charge that same day and later informed in 2025 that she would face no further action. During her police interview, she exercised her right to remain silent, answering 'no comment' to questions. She subsequently submitted a detailed written statement to the investigation in 2023.
Her estranged husband, Peter Murrell, the former SNP chief executive, was jailed for five years and three months after admitting embezzling over £400,000 of party funds.
Sturgeon's response
Anwar stated that Sturgeon remains 'angry, hurt and distressed' about Murrell's actions, saying she was 'utterly deceived and let down by her husband whom she had trusted.' The lawyer concluded: 'Ms Sturgeon is innocent of any crime and whilst that might be a source of annoyance for some, it remains a fact that it was Mr Murrell who was charged, tried, convicted and imprisoned for his crimes today.'
