Former SNP spindoctor attacks 'grotesque' police probe

The SNP's erstwhile rotation doc has said helium is consenting to stake that the constabulary probe into the party's finances volition not effect successful immoderate charges.

Murray Foote, who discontinue successful March amid a enactment implicit rank figures, speculated the probe could beryllium "wild goose chase" and branded it a "grotesque spectacle".

SNP main enforcement Peter Murrell and treasurer Colin Beattie were arrested arsenic portion of the ongoing investigation.

Both were released without complaint pending further inquiries.

Officers besides spent 2 days searching the Glasgow location of Mr Murrell and his woman - erstwhile archetypal curate Nicola Sturgeon - and the party's office successful Edinburgh.

A forensic structure was erected extracurricular the location and respective boxes of items were removed from some properties successful the high-profile cognition past month.

A luxury motorhome was besides seized from extracurricular the Dunfermline location of Mr Murrell's mother.

Mr Foote stood down arsenic caput of communications for the SNP aft the enactment provided inaccurate rank figures to the media during its enactment election, saying helium had passed them connected successful "good faith".

He had ridiculed paper reports, which aboriginal turned retired to beryllium true, that the enactment had mislaid 30,000 members.

The erstwhile Daily Record exertion wrote successful the paper connected Thursday that helium was prepared to stake £5 connected determination being nary charges aft the ongoing Police Scotland probe into the SNP's finances is concluded.

The probe, known arsenic Operation Branchform, was launched successful July 2021 pursuing complaints astir however much than £600,000 of donations for a aboriginal independency referendum were used.

Mr Foote described the show of forensic tents extracurricular of the location of the erstwhile archetypal curate arsenic "extraordinary" and a "grotesque circus".

He added: "Given the grim spectacle astatine the location Peter Murrell shares with Nicola Sturgeon and astatine the enactment HQ, it's inconceivable the authorities would beryllium truthful cavalier without slam dunk evidence, right?"

But helium went connected to comparison the concern to the Rangers case, wherever much than £50m successful compensation has been paid retired aft respective radical progressive successful the medication and acquisition of the shot nine were wrongly prosecuted.

Mr Foote said: "The authorities person erstwhile for high-profile inquiries collapsing successful scandal. If they person spectacularly misjudged this 1 too, past the reputational outgo volition beryllium acold much important than the currency spent connected manpower".

He added: "I'm not saying Branchform is simply a chaotic goose pursuit - but what if it is? Surely it's worthy considering.

"Actually, if we cherish the presumption of innocence, past a nary charges result indispensable beryllium astatine slightest considered. And the fallout would person superior consequences for the investigating authorities."

While Mr Foote said constabulary had a work to analyse complaints, helium said you would "struggle to conscionable 2 little apt maestro criminals" than Mr Beattie and Mr Murrell.

He wrote: "Firstly, Peter's loyalty to his woman is unquestionable. First curate Sturgeon and her hubby lived nether crushingly aggravated scrutiny.

"It is inconceivable to maine that Peter would truthful overmuch arsenic see doing thing dodgy lest it rebound and enactment his woman successful jeopardy."

Mr Foote besides forecast a imaginable surge successful SNP rank if the enactment is cleared of wrongdoing.

He resigned from his relation arsenic the SNP's media main aft describing property reports that the party's rank had dropped by 30,000 arsenic "inaccurate" and "drivel".

The SNP subsequently confirmed that rank had fallen to from 104,000 to 72,186 since 2021.

Mr Foote said helium issued agreed enactment responses to the media which "created a superior impediment" to his role.

The SNP raised £666,953 done referendum-related appeals betwixt 2017 and 2020 with a pledge to walk these funds connected the independency campaign.

Questions were raised aft its accounts showed it had conscionable nether £97,000 successful the slope astatine the extremity of 2019, and full nett assets of astir £272,000.

First Minister Humza Yousaf has rejected calls for Mr Murrell and Ms Sturgeon to beryllium suspended from the party.

He said Mr Beattie's apprehension was "clearly a precise superior substance indeed" but helium had not been suspended from the enactment arsenic "people are guiltless until proven guilty".