Nicola Sturgeon has defended her reported decision to give 'no comment' answers to the police during her arrest as part of an investigation into Scottish National Party (SNP) finances. The former Scottish first minister was taken into custody for questioning on 11 June 2023 but was released without charge later that same day.
Standard Legal Advice
According to a report in The Scottish Sun, Ms Sturgeon gave 'no comment' answers to police during questioning and 'sat in silence for hours' while at the station. In a statement issued by her solicitor, Aamer Anwar, it was emphasised that this approach was standard legal advice and that Ms Sturgeon's position was 'no different' to that set out regarding the criminal conduct of her estranged husband, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell.
Mr Murrell pleaded guilty to embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP. Mr Anwar stated: 'In relation to the advice tendered to Ms Sturgeon to make no comment, this was by her solicitor, formerly a very senior crown counsel at Crown Office.' He added that a 'no comment' response was 'standard advice offered on a regular basis in our jurisdiction'.
Criticism of Right to Silence
The lawyer expressed concern over comments made by Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay, who described Ms Sturgeon's 'right to silence' as a 'tactic of organised crime'. Mr Anwar said this characterisation was 'deeply worrying'. He further noted that Ms Sturgeon later insisted on providing a 'detailed written response' to Police Scotland questions.
'The idea that a highly resourced inquiry was hampered by a no comment interview is nonsensical,' Mr Anwar said. 'Had there been any evidence whatsoever of criminality against Ms Sturgeon, there can be no doubt that this gold-plated investigation would have led to Ms Sturgeon being charged and prosecuted.'
He clarified that it was not the role of the first minister to sign off party accounts, as that responsibility lay with the party treasurer. 'There appears to be an assumption that as FM, when Mr Murrell was busy buying multiple pens or pepper pots etc she was with him, Ms Sturgeon was not as unsurprisingly she was busy with other matters,' Mr Anwar added.
