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The ongoing finance probe into the Scottish National Party has entered a fresh chapter. According to multiple reports, Police Scotland is investigating missing or mis‑used funds within the SNP, and as part of their inquiry has seized a luxury recreational vehicle parked in the driveway of the mother‑in‑law of former SNP leader Nicola Sturgeon. The vehicle, reported to cost in the region of £100,000–£110,000, was taken from the property of 92‑year‑old Margaret Murrell in Fife. (The Standard)

The investigation — known publicly as Operation Branchform — was launched in July 2021 after complaints that donations intended for a second Scottish independence referendum had been diverted for other purposes. (Wikipedia) The seizure of the vehicle coincided with searches at the couple’s home near Glasgow and at the SNP’s Edinburgh headquarters, intensifying scrutiny of the party’s financial governance. (The Standard)

While Sturgeon has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing and maintains that the investigation had no bearing on her resignation, critics argue the events raise serious questions about transparency and accountability at the heart of the SNP. (The Standard) The motorhome seizure in particular has become symbolic of a broader governance crisis: why was such a large expenditure made, how was it accounted for, and why did that asset end up parked at a relative’s home?

As the inquiry progresses, the SNP faces not just legal exposure but also reputational damage. The questions now extend beyond one vehicle or one property: they strike at the mechanisms by which political parties handle significant donations and large assets. With public trust at stake, the SNP’s response — and what the police uncover — may have wide‑ranging consequences for Scottish politics.