Sturgeon's lawyer defends 'no comment' police interview after Murrell embezzlement guilty plea

Aamer Anwar, the solicitor representing former Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, has defended her decision to answer "no comment" to police questions during her arrest on 11 June 2023 as part of Operation Branchform, the investigation into Scottish National Party finances. Anwar said the response was standard legal advice and that Sturgeon later provided a "detailed written response" to Police Scotland.

Anwar's statement comes after Sturgeon's estranged husband, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, pleaded guilty on Monday in Edinburgh to embezzling more than £400,000 from the party over a 12-year period. Murrell spent the money on a motorhome, cars, jewellery and luxury items, some of which were gifted to Sturgeon. He was remanded in custody and will be sentenced next month.

Murrell was first arrested and questioned on 5 April 2023. Sturgeon was arrested two months later, on 11 June 2023. She attended a police interview by prior arrangement, was taken into custody, questioned by detectives and released without charge after seven hours. In the days after Murrell's arrest, Sturgeon had said she would "fully co-operate with the police" if they requested an interview.

Anwar said her decision to answer "no comment" to detectives was on the "standard" advice of a senior lawyer. "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 said. Anwar added that Sturgeon had 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," he 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."

Scottish Conservative leader Russell Findlay criticised Sturgeon's decision, describing her "right to silence" as a "tactic of organised crime". Speaking to BBC Radio Scotland Breakfast, Findlay said: "Nicola Sturgeon gave a 'no comment' answer to every single question put to her by Police Scotland. This is someone who told the public at the time she co-operated fully with police. I think that is at odds with that." Anwar called Findlay's criticism "deeply worrying".

Sturgeon has always maintained her innocence. She and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie, who was also arrested, were informed by police in March 2025 that they were no longer under investigation. The SNP accounts for 2021 list Sturgeon, Murrell and Beattie as party officers who approved them. Anwar reiterated that Sturgeon had no knowledge that party funds were used for personal items. "Whether Mr Murrell was buying pepper grinders, pens or Nintendo etc, Ms Sturgeon was unaware of his criminal conduct," he said.