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Sturgeon's police statement on SNP finances won't be released, says lawyer

Nicola Sturgeon was interviewed by the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg after Peter Murrell's guilty plea

The written statement Nicola Sturgeon gave to police investigating the SNP's finances will not be released, her lawyer has said.

Aamer Anwar, who is representing the former first minister, said that neither her written statement nor the police interview she took part in would be made puiblic.

After her arrest in 2023, Sturgeon exercised her right to give a "no comment" police interview, later sending a written statement to officers.

The interview was part of Operation Branchform, which ultimately led to Sturgeon's estranged husband Peter Murrell being convicted of embezzling more than £400,000 from the SNP during his time as chief executive. Murrell was jailed for five years and three months in June.

Sturgeon has said she is innocent of any wrongdoing and that she was "deceived, misled and betrayed" by Murrell.

In an interview with the BBC's Laura Kuenssberg in May, Sturgeon said the idea that she did not fully co-operate with the police "is not true".

Asked if she would publish the written statement she gave, the former first minister said: "I'd take legal advice on that, because it was a document that was passed to the Crown Office and to the police, but I can't think of anything in it that I wouldn't want (published)."

In a statement on Monday, seen by the Press Association, Anwar said: "Ms Sturgeon's detailed statement produced for Police Scotland was to assist them with their inquiries; not for those who think they could now do a better job than the robust 'gold-plated' financial crime investigation.

"Ms Sturgeon is innocent, as evidenced by the fact that she was not charged, prosecuted nor convicted of any crime.

"Having been exonerated through the proper process, there is no onus on her to now prove her innocence in the court of media opinion.

"Neither Ms Sturgeon's written statement or her police interview will be released."

Sturgeon said she would co-operate with police following her husband's arrest

Murrell was first arrested and questioned on 5 April 2023, with Sturgeon arrested two months later in connection with the inquiry.

The former SNP leader attended a police interview by prior arrangement, was taken into custody, questioned by detectives and released without charge seven hours later.

In the days after Murrell's arrest, Sturgeon had said she would "fully co-operate with the police" if they requested an interview.

The former first minister has always maintained her innocence, and was told last year that she was no longer under investigation by police.

Sturgeon's political rivals have criticised the decision.

Scottish Labour deputy leader Jackie Baillie said: "It was barely a month ago that Nicola Sturgeon said on national TV there was nothing in her statement that she would not want to be published.

"Yet now her lawyer has insisted that neither her written statement or her police interview will be released.

"The question is - why not?

"If Nicola Sturgeon has nothing to hide, then why is she so opposed to her statement being published?"

Scottish Conservative deputy leader Rachael Hamilton MSP said: "This blows apart any pretence that Nicola Sturgeon is prepared to be transparent about this SNP scandal.

"There is nothing stopping her from releasing the statement she gave to the police, yet she has decided she prefers hiding behind statements from her lawyer."