Scotland: Operation Branchform, Time to Reveal the Missing Thousands

[Social Media]

 

Senior nationalists are finally stepping up, demanding clarity on Scotland's most extensive police investigation, Operation Branchform. As questions mount regarding the mysterious disappearance of six hundred thousand pounds, pressure builds on Dorothy Bain, the Lord Advocate, to provide answers. It’s becoming increasingly urgent for Bain, Scotland’s senior law officer and a member of the Scottish Government, to address the Scottish Parliament with details about the operation’s progress—or lack thereof.

 

For years, silence has surrounded Operation Branchform, an investigation that, after 1,250 days, has yielded little public information from the police or the Crown Office. This prolonged secrecy has led to a growing outcry within the Scottish National Party (SNP), as members and supporters alike demand transparency.

 

Tommy Sheppard, a seasoned SNP figure and former MP for Edinburgh East, has voiced these frustrations, reflecting a broader sentiment within the party. Though not an official party statement, Sheppard’s demand underscores a shared impatience. His call to action resonates with many who believe that the answers lie in Bain's hands, even if he refrains from addressing her directly.

 

The police's request for “advice and guidance” from the Crown Office back in August 2023 signaled a critical juncture in the investigation. Yet, Bain, citing her dual role as a government minister, recused herself from the final decision-making process, delegating it to other senior figures. Despite her recusal, she remains accountable to the Scottish Parliament for the Crown Office’s actions, leaving the public in a frustrating limbo.

 

This silence, viewed by many as an embodiment of the opacity characteristic of the Scottish legal system, has stretched the investigation at significant taxpayer expense without clear justification for the delays. The sentiment of "justice delayed is justice denied," famously quoted by Gladstone and echoed by Sheppard, highlights the urgency for resolution.

 

The case gained more public attention with charges against Peter Murrell, Nicola Sturgeon’s husband, related to the alleged embezzlement of SNP funds. This development last summer only added to the intrigue, yet the small scale of the SNP’s headquarters staff suggests that the investigation shouldn't have been so prolonged. “It’s not as if we are talking about a major complex international organisation here,” Sheppard pointed out, questioning why a decision on the next steps hasn't been made.

 

While some speculate that criminal charges against Sturgeon or Colin Beattie, the former SNP treasurer, are unlikely—particularly after their arrests and subsequent releases without charge 18 months ago—such views remain conjectural without official statements.

 

Sheppard’s reflections on the SNP's waning support, particularly during the last general election, point to Operation Branchform as a significant factor. The investigation looms over the party, casting a shadow that deters engagement from regular supporters.

 

As the situation stands, the call for Dorothy Bain to break the silence grows louder. Operation Branchform, with its missing thousands and the cloud of mystery surrounding it, demands answers that only the Lord Advocate can provide. Whether this will lead to the closure many seek remains to be seen, but the demand for transparency is now impossible to ignore.

 

Based on a report by Daily Telegraph 2024-01-08

 

 

[RuamRudy]

Politically motivated from day 1, it will continue to be dragged out as long as humanly possible such that the independence movement can be tainted to the maximum. 

 

This is especially important now, given that Starmer, that great British hope for unity, has proven himself to be as useless as his predecessors, and that Labour's return to favour in Scotland proved to be as fleeting as the rest of the UK. 

 

So my prediction is that Branchform will continue to rumble on in the background with no major developments, only to rise again at the time of future elections. 

[JonnyF]

Great to see the SNP discredited again.

 

Sturgeon is lucky to be walking around as a free woman. 

[RuamRudy]

4 hours ago, JonnyF said:

 

Sturgeon is lucky to be walking around as a free woman. 

 

If there was a case against her she would be facing charges. She is as lucky as you are that you are walking around a free man. 

[The Cyclist]

3 minutes ago, RuamRudy said:

 

If there was a case against her she would be facing charges. She is as lucky as you are that you are walking around a free man. 

 

She, along with 2 others have been arrested and remain under active investigation.

[RuamRudy]

10 minutes ago, The Cyclist said:

 

She, along with 2 others have been arrested and remain under active investigation.

 

9 hours ago, Social Media said:

While some speculate that criminal charges against Sturgeon or Colin Beattie, the former SNP treasurer, are unlikely—particularly after their arrests and subsequent releases without charge 18 months ago—such views remain conjectural without official statements.

 

Released without charge - as I said.

[norfolkandchance]

Yes. Let's get this investigation to a conclusion. Then the SNP can get back to securing Independence again.