Saddleworth2
Well-Known Member
For anyone interested, here is as full as a time line that I could get (with some help from a friend). Enough red flags here to fill Anfield.
Full Operation Branchform / SNP Finance Timeline
2001
- Peter Murrell appointed chief executive of the SNP by then leader John Swinney.
- Murrell ultimately remains in post for more than 20 years.
2010
- Murrell and Nicola Sturgeon marry.
- Period covered by later embezzlement charges begins (August 2010 onward).
September 2014
- Alex Salmond resigns after the independence referendum defeat.
- Nicola Sturgeon becomes SNP leader and first minister.
- Salmond later says he warned Sturgeon that Murrell remaining CEO while she led the party created governance risks.
Referendum Fundraising Phase
March–June 2017
- SNP launches “Referendum Appeal” fundraiser for a future indyref2 campaign.
- Nearly £500k raised before appeal closes early.
December 2019
- Second independence fundraising drive launched via yes.scot.
- Combined “ringfenced” referendum funds later stated to total about £666,953.
February 2020
- Questions begin publicly emerging over whether referendum donations remain intact.
- SNP insists equivalent sums are “earmarked”.
October 2020
- Internal and public concerns intensify over transparency of SNP finances.
- Rumours spread that referendum money may already have been spent elsewhere.
- Stuart Campbell and others begin pressing the issue publicly.
Finance Committee Revolt
2020 SNP Internal Elections
- Douglas Chapman MP elected SNP national treasurer.
- He replaces Colin Beattie, who had held the role from 2004–2020.
20 March 2021
- Three members of the SNP Finance & Audit Committee resign:
- Frank Ross
- Cynthia Guthrie
- Allison Graham
- They reportedly resign over lack of access to financial information/accounts.
March 2021
- Independence campaigner Sean Clerkin submits complaint to Police Scotland regarding allegedly missing referendum funds.
May 2021
- SNP wins fourth consecutive Holyrood election, taking 64 seats.
29 May 2021
- Douglas Chapman resigns as national treasurer.
- His resignation statement is explosive:
- says he lacked “financial information”
- says he lacked support to fulfil fiduciary duties
- implies inability to properly scrutinise party finances.
May 2021
- Joanna Cherry resigns from SNP NEC citing transparency and scrutiny concerns.
May–June 2021
- Nicola Sturgeon temporarily becomes acting treasurer because Electoral Commission rules require the post to be continuously filled.
June 2021
- Colin Beattie reinstated as SNP treasurer.
June 2021
- Murrell loans SNP £107,620 supposedly for “cash flow”.
- Loan is not publicly disclosed until December 2022 and was declared late to the Electoral Commission.
June 2021 NEC Meeting
- Colin Beattie states:
- £666,953 raised for referendum campaigning
- only £51,760 directly spent on referendum activity
- He says funds were “earmarked” internally rather than formally separated in accounts.
Police Investigation Begins
July 2021
- Police Scotland formally launches Operation Branchform after complaints regarding SNP finances and referendum donations.
August 2021
- SNP annual accounts acknowledge transparency concerns publicly for first time.
- Colin Beattie references internal “earmarking” of referendum money.
Collapse of Internal Governance
September/October 2022
- Longstanding SNP auditors Johnston Carmichael resign.
- NEC allegedly not informed.
- Humza Yousaf later says he was unaware after becoming leader.
December 2022
- Murrell’s £107k loan becomes public knowledge.
- Sturgeon says the funds “belonged to him”.
Leadership Collapse
February 2023
- Police reportedly begin contacting senior SNP figures and former officials.
- Douglas Chapman reportedly among those approached.
13 February 2023
- Nicola Sturgeon unexpectedly resigns as first minister and SNP leader.
March 2023
- SNP membership numbers controversy erupts.
- Around 30,000 “missing” members revealed.
- Murrell resigns as SNP chief executive after accusations party misled media.
March 2023
- Murray Foote resigns after defending inaccurate membership figures publicly.
Arrests Phase
5 April 2023
- Peter Murrell arrested.
- Police search:
- Murrell/Sturgeon home
- SNP headquarters
- Blue forensic tent erected.
- Luxury campervan seized later from Murrell’s mother’s property in Fife.
18 April 2023
- Colin Beattie arrested and released without charge.
- Resigns as SNP treasurer next day.
- Stuart McDonald appointed replacement treasurer.
May 2023
- SNP finally appoints new auditors to avoid losing Westminster “Short Money”.
11 June 2023
- Nicola Sturgeon arrested and released without charge.
- Says she has “done nothing wrong”.
July 2023
- Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone says investigation has moved beyond initial allegations.
Charging Phase
18 April 2024
- Murrell re-arrested and charged with embezzlement.
August 2024
- Police Scotland submits findings to Crown Office.
Final Political Fallout
January 2025
- Sturgeon announces separation and divorce from Murrell.
- Court reportedly prevents Murrell disposing of assets during investigation.
March 2025
- Murrell appears in court charged with embezzlement.
- No plea entered.
- Released on bail.
- Same day:
- Sturgeon cleared
- Colin Beattie cleared
- Police investigation into them formally ends.
February 2026
- Murrell accused across eight charges totalling roughly £460k.
May 2026
- Murrell pleads guilty to embezzling £400,310.65 from SNP funds between 2010–2022.
- Court hears allegations involving:
- campervan
- Jaguar I-PACE
- VW Golf
- luxury goods
- electronics
- household items
- false invoices
- falsified expenses
- party credit card misuse.
June 2026 (scheduled)
- Sentencing hearing due.
- Full agreed narrative of facts expected to be aired in court.
