Nicola Sturgeon was arrested last year. (Image: Getty)
a Scottish MP have warned prosecutors could detonate a “political hand grenade” that would “change the narrative” of the election after saying Nicola Sturgeon remains under investigation.
Nationalist MP Angus MacNeil has urged the Crown Office to provide “clarity” over the investigation into the former prime minister and whether they will “wait” until after the election to lay charges over the investigation into the former prime minister . SNP finance.
MacNeil, the MP for the Western Isles, said any action related to Operation Branchform “has enormous potential to change the narrative of this campaign”.
MacNeil, who was expelled from the SNP last year he said he was concerned about his former colleagues, fearing that their campaigns could “go off course if further charges – or even prosecutions – are filed during the election period.”
Peter Murrell was a former chief executive of the SNP. (Image: Getty)
He claimed that by writing to the Crown Office he was doing his former colleagues “a favour” as they could be said to be trying to influence prosecutors, according to the Telegraph.
The MP has spoken out after Police Scotland announced a report had been handed to the Crown Office regarding Sturgeon's husband Peter Murrell.
Murrell, who is the SNPThe party's CEO has been charged in connection with embezzling party funds.
The Crown Office told the Telegraph that the investigation into Sturgeon and Colin Beatie, the party's former treasurer, “is ongoing”.
Angus MacNeil (Image: PA Wire)
It said decisions about what happens next “are not influenced by political events”.
This suggests that prosecutors would not delay decisions until after the election.
It comes at a terrible time for the SNP polls predicted the party would lose to the resurgent Scottish Labour.
MacNeil was one of the party's longest-serving MPs until he was expelled after a row with the chief whip.
He will oppose the SNP as an independent candidate.
Colin Beattie (Image: Getty)
In a letter to the Crown Office, he said: “I am writing to seek clarity due to the potential political grenade of more possible charges arising from this investigation.
“It has the enormous potential to change the narrative of this campaign. Will that make the Crown Office wait until after July 4?
“I'm quite concerned about it SNP friends on the mainland. Because I'm no longer one SNP MP: I can request the information that they may not be able to request.
“I am doing a favor for those campaigns that could be thrown off course if further charges – or even prosecutions – are filed during the election season.”
Nicola Sturgeon (Image: Getty)
Police Scotland's Operation Branchform investigated how the SNP processed more than £600,000 in donations for a second independence referendum in 2017.
Advocates filed complaints when Companies House published accounts in 2020 that appeared to demonstrate this SNP had around £97,000 in the bank, even though the referendum never actually took place.
Police raided Sturgeon and Murrell's home on April 5 last year, searched it for two days and set up a large evidence tent. They also seized a large RV parked outside the Fife home of Murrell's mother's home.
Murrell was arrested during the raid, Beattie the following month and Sturgeon in June. All three were released without charge pending further investigation, with Sturgeon denying any wrongdoing.
Murrell, who married Sturgeon in 2010, was arrested for a second time in April before being charged. While police confirmed that both Sturgeon and Beattie remain “under investigation”.
According to The Telegraph, the Crown Office referred to a statement saying: “Connected investigations into two other individuals, a man aged 72 and a 53-year-old woman, remain ongoing.”
It added: “Decisions on how to proceed are made by prosecutors acting independently, and are based on available evidence, legal principles and the merits of each case. They are not influenced by political events.”
While Police Scotland said: “Investigations are continuing and we are unable to comment further.”
The SNP also told the publication it would be “inappropriate to comment.”