NICOLA Sturgeon was last night accused of becoming a “part-time MSP” — one year on from the sensational police raid on her home.
Rivals slammed the ex-First Minister as it emerged she has made just four contributions at Holyrood in 12 months — during which she signed a £300,000 deal to write her autobiography.
Tory MSP Annie Wells said: “She seems more focused on writing her memoirs, rather than representing her Glasgow Southside constituents.
“She has become a part-time MSP and is failing to participate in crucial parliamentary business.
“And, typically, it is taxpayers who have been left to pick up the tab.”
Ms Sturgeonstepped down as First Minister on March 29 last year.
A week later, on April 5, her home near Glasgow was searched by cops as part of the ongoing probe into SNP finances, Operation Branchform.
A tent was erected at the property and her husband, former Nats chief executive Peter Murrell, 59, was arrested and quizzed before being released without charge.
For the rest of 2023 the ex-SNP leader only spoke in parly during a debate about the programme for government in September and during a climate justice discussion in October.
And so far this year Ms Sturgeon has spoken just twice — during First Minister’s Questions on January 11 and six days later, when she made a point of order to alert the Presiding Officer, Alison Johnston, that her voting app was not working.
In comparison, Ms Sturgeon’s close ally, John Swinney, has made 64 contributions in the chamber at Holyrood since he stood down as deputy First Minister.
Over the same period, ex-Finance Secretary and now backbench Nats MSP Kate Forbes has made 46.
And former Scottish Government minister Ash Regan, who defected to Alex Salmond’s Alba Party last October, has made 30 contributions.
Both ran in the SNP leadership contest against Humza Yousaf last March.
Meanwhile, among opposition MSPs, Tory justice spokesman Russell Findlay made 80 contributions over the past 12 months, former Scots Lib Dems leader Willie Rennie spoke 158 times and ex-Scottish Labour boss Richard Leonard made 55.
Last night Dame Jackie Baillie, Scottish Labour’s deputy leader, said: “As chaos and division engulfs the SNP, Nicola Sturgeon’s constituents have been left without the representation they deserve.”
Mr Rennie hit out: “I can understand why Nicola would want to keep a low profile but she does have a job to do on behalf of her constituents and she is paid to do that job by hard-pressed taxpayers.”
In response, a spokesman for Ms Sturgeon said: “Since being elected in 1999, Nicola has always been a very active MSP for the people she represents and regularly holds surgeries, meets with constituents, visits local businesses and engages with community organisations.”
Officers began a search of her home a year ago today.
It’s believed she was in the house at around 7.35am when cops swooped in and arrested Mr Murrell. He was released without charge before 7pm.
Police Scotland officers also carried out a search that same day on the SNP’s Edinburgh HQ.
Mr Murrell had previously sparked controversy in 2022 when it emerged he had given a loan of more than £107,620 to the party in June 2021.
At the time, Nats chiefs described it as a “personal contribution made by the chief executive to assist with cash flow after the Holyrood election”.
Operation Branchform also led to the arrest two weeks later on April 19 of MSP Colin Beattie, 72, who was then the SNP’s treasurer.
She seems more focused on writing her memoirs, rather than representing her Glasgow Southside constituents… She has become a part-time MSP
Annie Wells
He was quizzed and then released without charge.
Cops seized a £110,000 motorhome that was parked outside the home of Mr Murrell’s mother in Dunfermline.
Then, on June 11, Ms Sturgeon was also arrested and questioned by detectives before being released without charge.
Afterwards, she said: “I respect and fully understand the process that is under way but I am absolutely certain I have done nothing wrong and that is a position I will continue to maintain.”
Last August, she signed a lucrative deal to pen her “deeply personal and revealing” autobiography. It is due to be published in August 2025 by Pan McMillan, priced at £25.
Police Scotland has remained tight-lipped about developments in the case.
Timeline of probe
JULY 2021: Police Scotland confirm it is investigating after seven complaints were made around donations to the SNP.
AUGUST 2021: After annual accounts are published, treasurer Colin Beattie acknowledges there had been “concern” about transparency over independence-related appeals that had raised more than £600,000.
DECEMBER 2022: Peter Murrell is revealed to have loaned the party £100,000 in June 2021. The party said this was to help with a “cash flow” issue after the election that year.
FEBRUARY 2023: First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announces her resignation.
MARCH 2023: Mr Murrell resigns as the party’s chief executive.
APRIL 5, 2023: He is arrested after a police raid at his home near Glasgow as well as the SNP’s HQ in Edinburgh. He is released without charge, pending further investigation, the same day.
APRIL 9, 2023: A luxury camper van, thought to be worth £110,000, is seized by police investigating the party’s finances.
APRIL 18, 2023: Mr Beattie is arrested and quizzed by police and later released without charge.
JUNE 11, 2023: Ms Sturgeon is arrested. She “voluntarily” arranges with Police Scotland to be questioned as part of the probe but is released without charge pending further investigation. She said: “The thing that sustains me right now is the certainty that I have done nothing wrong.”
JULY 2023: Outgoing Police Scotland Chief Constable Sir Iain Livingstone says the investigation has “moved beyond what some of the initial reports were”, insisting this is not uncommon in financial inquiries.
OCTOBER 2023: Following the SNP’s defeat in the Rutherglen and Hamilton West by-election, new First Minister Humza Yousaf said the probe into the party’s finances played a part in the result.
New chief constable Jo Farrell took over from Sir Iain Livingstone last October. Two months later we revealed the operation had already cost the force more than £1million.
The total includes salary and overtime payments for officers, plus the costs of vehicle hire.
Asked today about Operation Branchform, Police Scotland said: “As the investigation remains ongoing we are unable to comment.”
And a Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service spokesman told The Scottish Sun: “Senior professional prosecutors and an advocate depute are working with police on this ongoing investigation.
“The duration of any investigation will vary, depending on its individual circumstances. To protect the integrity of ongoing investigations, we do not comment in detail on their conduct.”
He added: “It is standard practice that any case regarding politicians is dealt with by prosecutors without the involvement of the law officers.
“All Scotland’s prosecutors act independently of political interference.”
