Former First Minister Nicola Sturgeon is facing criticism for her refusal to publish the written statement she provided to police as part of Operation Branchform, with political opponents claiming it shows "utter contempt for telling the public the truth."
Police Scotland confirmed that Sturgeon submitted her statement on July 26, 2023, six weeks after an initial interview in which she offered a "no comment." The written statement contains 8,413 words and spans 26 pages, according to details released by Police Scotland following a freedom of information request.
Rachael Hamilton, Scottish Conservative deputy leader, accused Sturgeon of breaking a promise of accessibility made when she took office. Hamilton stated that Sturgeon's approach to transparency in her tenure was "horrendous" and that this attitude is continuing now that she has left elected politics.
Joanna Cherry, a former SNP MP, also condemned Sturgeon's stance, noting a perceived shift from her previous emphasis on transparency within the party. Sturgeon's lawyer, Aamer Anwar, announced on Monday that the statement would not be released, asserting it was intended to assist police inquiries, not for public scrutiny or to be judged in the "court of media opinion." Anwar emphasized that Sturgeon was not charged, prosecuted, or convicted of any crime, and therefore has no obligation to prove her innocence publicly.
Meanwhile, Scottish Secretary Douglas Alexander has expressed concern over a "culture of secrecy" within the SNP government, following revelations that former Lord Advocate Dorothy Bain briefed First Minister John Swinney on details of the criminal case involving the former SNP chief executive, Peter Murrell. Murrell was jailed for five years and three months for embezzling over £400,000 from his party.
Alexander has backed the possibility of a House of Commons committee inquiry into the fallout from the scandal. He stated that he is "deeply troubled" by matters of conduct that have emerged recently in Scotland. He noted that if Scottish Parliament committees do not address these issues, there may be an openness to consider such an inquiry in Westminster, particularly concerning whether any public money was involved. Scottish Parliament committees are not expected to respond until after Holyrood's summer recess, and SNP and Green MSPs previously voted against calls for a Scottish Parliament inquiry into the scandal.