NICOLA Sturgeon had a fresh brush with the law this week as she found herself sitting just feet from Scotland’s Chief Constable.
The ex-First Minister – who remains under investigation by Police Scotland – “studiously ignored” top cop Jo Farrell in an “awkward” encounter in the cafe area at Holyrood, insiders revealed.
4
4
4
Ms Farrell and prosecutors are under mounting pressure to bring to a close the long-running probe into alleged embezzlement of SNP funds, with Ms Sturgeon among those arrested last year.
And with the investigation ongoing, Ms Sturgeon found herself seated near the Chief Constable in the Scottish Parliament lobby this week after Ms Farrell attended a meeting in parliament.
Find out what’s really going on
Register now for our free weekly politics newsletter for an insightful and irreverent look at the (sometimes excruciating) world of Scottish Politics.
Every Thursday our hotshot politics team goes behind the headlines to bring you a rundown of key events – plus insights and gossip from the corridors of power, including a ‘Plonker’ and ‘Star’ of the Week.
Sign up now and make sure you don’t miss a beat. The politicians would hate that.
An onlooker said the encounter appeared “awkward”, adding: “You could cut the atmosphere with a knife. They seemed to be studiously ignoring each other.”
Ms Sturgeon was spotted having a coffee meeting with a man in the Garden Lobby of the Scottish Parliament on Thursday afternoon.
While the Chief Constable was also in the area, also sat on the cafe chairs, metres away from Ms Sturgeon as she awaited a meeting.
The top cop was in Holyrood for private meetings about the upcoming Scottish Government budget, including with Scottish Tory leader Russell Findlay and Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar.
And she was witnessed having a friendly conversation with ex-cop turned SNP MSP, Audrey Nicoll, and other parliamentarians.
The two were overheard discussing recent evidence sessions of the Criminal Justice Committee, which Ms Nicoll chairs.
Operation Branchform has cast a long shadow over Ms Sturgeon and Police Scotland since the investigation into alleged financial wrongdoing was launched by cops in 2021.
Ms Sturgeon’s husband, former SNP chief executive Peter Murrell, was charged in connection with alleged embezzlement from the party in April.
The ex-First Minister and ex-Nats treasurer, Colin Beattie, remain under investigation.
The probe gained national attention when the home of Ms Sturgeon and Mr Murrell was raided by cops last year – with police forced to defend the use of a large tent across the entrance.
They said it was “proportionate and necessary”.
Ms Sturgeon was contacted for comment.
4
It comes after the former First Minister was forced to declare she is under active police investigation as part of her bid to stand for re-election to Holyrood in 2026.
Ms Sturgeon had to highlight Operation Branchform as part of the party’s vetting of potential candidates for election.
