Humiliation for the SNP: Police launch further investigation after Nicola Sturgeon’s arrest | Politics | News

The Scottish National Party (SNP) is suffering from a new scandal as police launch fresh investigations into former First Minister Alex Salmond. Just over a year ago, Nicolaa Sturgeon was arrested as part of an ongoing investigation into the party’s finances.

The new investigation, called “Operation Broadcroft,” focuses on the handling of allegations of sexual misconduct against Alex Salmond, the former First Minister and leader of the SNP.

That investigation focuses in particular on whether a senior official, James Hynd, gave false evidence under oath during a hearing at the Court of Session earlier this week as part of an investigation into the allegations against Salmond.

Salmond, who was acquitted of 14 sexual assault charges in 2020, is now demanding significant compensation from the Scottish government, which could run into millions of pounds.

His legal team argues that various Scottish government officials, including Nicola Sturgeon, acted in bad faith during a flawed internal investigation in 2018. They claim those officials mishandled the investigation inappropriately and with malicious intent to harm Salmond.

Lawyer Gordon Dangerfield, representing Salmond, revealed details of the police investigation at a recent hearing in the Court of Session. He explained that the investigation is currently focused on possible offences relating to making false statements under oath, but could be expanded to include other criminal activities.

“The evidence in the allegations is very detailed and specific,” Dangerfield said, stressing the seriousness of the allegations.

This situation has exacerbated the already strained relationship between Salmond and Sturgeon, with the former SNP leader having previously accused senior figures in the party of being involved in a conspiracy to imprison him.

Sturgeon has always denied any involvement in such a conspiracy, but admits that the situation has placed a severe strain on their relationship, which she said has been “very important to her politically and personally for most of my life”.

The legal and political fallout from these incidents has had a significant impact on the SNP, which is already struggling with a number of controversies and has suffered a humiliating general election defeat in which the party lost the vast majority of its seats to Labour and the title of third largest party in Westminster to the Liberal Democrats.

The outcome of Operation Broadcroft, as well as ongoing legal battles, could further destabilise the party at a time when it is struggling with internal divisions and public criticism.