Operation Branchform – the police investigation into SNP finances – has dominated Scottish politics since Peter Murrell was first arrested in April 2023.
The former SNP chief executive was not the only high-profile figure to be arrested, but he was the only person charged and will appear at Edinburgh High Court for a preliminary hearing .
He is alleged to have embezzled almost £460,000 from the party over a 12-year period, from 2010 to 2023.
The Herald takes a closer look at how Police Scotland’s investigation unfolded and the events that have followed.
March 2017 – indyref2 funds
The SNP launches its #ScotRef fundraising appeal with a £1 million target as Nicola Sturgeon announces she is requesting a second referendum on Scottish independence from the UK Government.
June 2017 – fundraiser closed
The SNP closes its crowdfunder having reached just under half of the target - £482,000. It follows a snap general election where the SNP loses 21 seats, with the party’s vote share falling from 50% to 37%.
An SNP statement given to The Herald states the funds raised during the crowdfunder will be “earmarked” for specific referendum campaigning.
December 2019 – SNP bounces back
The SNP makes significant gains during the 2019 general election, securing 45% of the vote with 48 MPs elected, an increase of 13.
The party then launches a second fundraiser – yes.scot – after voters sent a “clear message” by electing the SNP. That takes the indyref2 funds total to almost £667,000.
Read more:
- Peter Murrell to appear in court accused of SNP embezzlement
- Who is Peter Murrell, the former SNP chief executive?
October 2020 – SNP accounts
Electoral accounts published reveal the SNP had just £97,000 in the bank at the end of 2019. There was also £272,000 in assets.
Party treasurer Colin Beattie emails SNP members to provide assurances over funding, stating a “referendum appeal fund” had a £583,501 balance that could be deployed “instantaneously”.
November 2020 – New treasurer
In a bid to provide greater transparency, Colin Beattie is removed as treasurer following an internal vote and is replaced by Douglas Chapman, an SNP MP.
March 2021 – First complaint
Police Scotland receives its first complaint following the resignation of three members of the SNP’s finance and audit committee. Councillor Frank Ross, Cynthia Guthrie and Allison Graham resigned citing a lack of access to party funds.
May 2021 – More resignations
The SNP wins the 2021 Scottish Parliament election but falls short of a majority with 64 MSPs. Nicola Sturgeon announces intention to set out indyref2 plans after the Covid-19 pandemic settles.
However, Douglas Chapman resigns as national treasurer for the party, claiming he did not have enough information to do the job. Joanna Cherry also quits the ruling body in June 2021. Mr Beattie returns as treasurer.
June 2021 – Murrell loan
Peter Murrell, the husband of Nicola Sturgeon, loans the SNP £107,000 to “assist with cashflow”. It is only declared to the Electoral Commission a year later. Accounts state no interest was being paid on the loan. A total of £47,620 was repaid but the remainder is outstanding.
July 2021 – Operation Branchform
Police Scotland officially launches an investigation into SNP finances. The probe is called Operation Branchform. The SNP denies wrongdoing.
September 2022 – Auditors quit
Johnston Carmichael resigns as the SNP’s long-standing accountants. They had worked with the SNP for over a decade. Details of their resignation only emerge seven months later in April 2023.
February 2023 - Sturgeon resigns
Ms Sturgeon resigns as first minister and leader of the SNP after being in charge since 2014. It triggers a damaging leadership contest for the SNP, with Humza Yousaf selected following a battle against Kate Forbes and Ash Regan.
Ms Sturgeon insists her decision to resign had nothing to do with the police investigation.
March 18, 2023 - Murrell resigns
Mr Murrell announces he is resigning as chief executive of the SNP with immediate effect on March 18 2023 amid a row over the party's membership numbers and transparency.
April 5, 2023 – Murrell arrest
Mr Murrell is arrested at the home he shares with Ms Sturgeon. He is questioned under caution before being released without charge.
Images of a blue forensic police tent erected outside the home of the former first minister shocks the world. Police also search SNP HQ in Edinburgh.
Police seize a luxury motorhome from the Fife home of Murrell’s 92-year-old mother.
April 18, 2023 – Beattie arrest
SNP treasurer Colin Beattie is arrested and released without charge pending further investigation. He resigns as treasurer of the party.
June 11, 2023 – Sturgeon arrest
Nicola Sturgeon is arrested and released without charge seven hours after being questioned under police caution. She tells journalists she is innocent of all wrongdoing.
April 18, 2024 – Murrell charged
Police re-arrest Mr Murrell and formally charge him with the alleged embezzlement of SNP funds.
January 13, 2025 – Separation
Ms Sturgeon announces her separation from Mr Murrell on Instagram.
The couple have been married since 2010 but Ms Sturgeon states the pair have been separated for some time and have “decided to end” their marriage with a “heavy heart”.
She says they still cared deeply for each other and always will.
March 20, 2025 – Murrell in court
Peter Murrell appears in court in Edinburgh on embezzlement charges. He makes no plea and is released on bail.
Police Scotland also confirms Ms Sturgeon and Mr Beattie are no longer under investigation.
July 2025 – Legal aid
The Scottish Legal Aid Board (SLAB) approved Mr Murrell's application for legal aid.
February 13, 2026 - Delay
Peter Murrell’s preliminary hearing is postponed until May 25, 2026, after the Holyrood election.
Details of the charges against him emerge, with the former chief executive accused of embezzling £459,000 from the SNP between 2010 and 2023.
May 25, 2026 – Court appearance
Mr Murrell pleaded guilty via his lawyer John Scullion KC, during an appearance at the High Court of Edinburgh. The Crown accepted a plea to a lesser sum of £400,310.65. He was remanded in custody.
June 2, 2026 - Narrative
Details of Murrell's offending were revealed. Prosecutors set out how three vehicles – including a £124,550 Niesmann + Bischoff motorhome driven only four miles were bought with party money, disguised in the accounts and used solely for Murrell’s private benefit.
The indictment includes examples of falsified invoices, from a bogus “Apple processor” to manufactured studio‑lighting receipts, along with mis‑coded purchases such as luxury watches logged as “event merchandise” and a robotic lawnmower recorded as “legal fees”.
