A £110,000 motorhome has been seized from outside the home of Nicola Sturgeon’s mother-in-law, apparently as part of the Police Scotland investigation into the SNP’s finances.
The German-made Niesmann + Bischoff was taken from the home of Margaret Murrell, 92, in Dunfermline on Wednesday. It happened as police searched the home of Sturgeon and her husband, Peter Murrell, the former SNP chief executive, the Scottish Mail on Sunday said.
Murrell had been arrested earlier that day in connection with the investigation into reports of fraud over £600,000 raised to campaign for independence. He was released several hours later pending further inquiries.
As well as Murrell and Sturgeon’s home near Glasgow, officers searched SNP headquarters in Edinburgh and removed boxes of items.
It is not known where the motorhome was taken after being seized and police declined to say how long it would be impounded for. According to the newpaper, police arrived to collect the van at about 9am, with two unmarked cars, an SUV, an estate car and a tow truck. Neighbours said it had been delivered to the house in January 2021 and, as far as they knew, had not moved since.
One witness said: “It happened at about 9am, which is about the time they started raiding Peter’s house, I think. They did not go into the house, as Margaret is quite old now and they would not have wanted to disturb her. They couldn’t get in to the motorhome at first because it was locked and had clamps on it, so they had to get some keys from somewhere.
“They went off but came back and managed to get it open. Then they loaded it on the back of a huge lorry and, after a bit of trouble securing it, took it away.”
Another local resident confirmed that the van had been on the drive since early in January 2021. The newspaper reported that the motorhome was an iSmove, which is made by Niesmann + Bischoff and is advertised for sale at about £110,000.
The motorhome seized from outside Margaret Murrell’s house was a Niesmann + Bischoff iSmove
Police are refusing to comment further on the investigation. A marked police car parked further up the road in the private estate while officers tried to get the vehicle on to the tow truck.
It is the type of vehicle hated by many Scottish voters due to their increasing use by Highlands tourists, leading to rows over traffic jams and piles of rubbish discarded by the owners.
Ian Blackford, the SNP’s former leader at Westminster, famously hit out at motorhome owners who drove to the Highlands to escape the Covid pandemic, branding them “irresponsible”. He tweeted: “Those in camper vans please go home.”
After his arrest, Murrell, who resigned as SNP chief executive in a row over membership numbers, was questioned by detectives for 11 hours. A search of his home was carried out and officers were also seen leaving Gordon Lamb House, the SNP office in Edinburgh, with ten large bags of evidence.
Speaking outside her house on Saturday, Sturgeon said she had not been questioned by police but would fully co-operate with the investigation. The former first minister also said that the past few days had been difficult for her. “As much as there are things I might want to say, I’m not able to do so other than to say that, there will continue to be full co-operation.
Murrell was arrested in connection with the investigation into SNP finances
“The last few days have been obviously difficult, quite traumatic at times, but I understand that is part of a process. I also understand that I’ve always accepted the scrutiny that comes on me as a public figure and I never shied away from that.”
She said Murrell was at home but “not able to say anything” about his arrest while the inquiry continued. “Again, that’s not necessarily a matter of choice. That’s just the nature of this.”
The Glasgow Southside MSP said she intended to “get on with my life and my job, as you would expect me to”.
The investigation into the SNP’s finances, named Operation Branchform, is being directed by crown prosecutors in response to complaints that money ringfenced for the independence referendum fund was misappropriated. A £107,620 interest-free personal loan from Murrell to the party in 2021 is said to be in its scope.
Sturgeon announced her resignation seven weeks before the police raids and has repeatedly denied that the investigation had anything to do with her decision. The saga has been described by Mike Russell, president of the SNP, as the party’s biggest crisis in 50 years.
Earlier, it emerged that the accountant that audited the SNP’s books for more than a decade had resigned. Johnston Carmichael informed the party of the decision before Murrell’s arrest.
The SNP treasurer is seeking another auditor to comply with Electoral Commission rules. An SNP spokesman said: “It would not be appropriate to comment on any live police investigation. The SNP has been co-operating fully and will continue to do so.”
Source: The Times
Recent Comments