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Scotland’s Crown Office still hasn’t received Murrell’s charge sheet

Scotland's former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon with husband and former SNP CEO Peter Murrell. (Photo by ANDY BUCHANAN/AFP via Getty Images)

News just in: Scotland’s Crown Office has still not received a report from Police Scotland about the SNP’s former chief executive Peter Murrell — almost a fortnight after he was rearrested and charged with embezzlement. Talk about taking things slowly…

The husband of former first minister Nicola Sturgeon was taken into police custody for the second time on 18 April as part of the police probe into SNP finances — and charged with embezzling funds from his own party. Yet two weeks on, there has been little sign of the case progressing.

Shortly after the police force announced that it had charged the former SNP chief, it transpired that Murrell had also resigned his party membership. His wife, Nicola Sturgeon, and the SNP’s former treasurer Colin Beattie were also arrested last year in connection with the investigation into a ‘missing’ sum of £600,000 supposedly ring-fenced for IndyRef2 campaigning. Both were subsequently released, but remain under investigation.

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Steerpike

Steerpike is The Spectator's gossip columnist, serving up the latest tittle tattle from Westminster and beyond. Email tips to steerpike@spectator.co.uk or message @MrSteerpike

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