Ex SNP MSP calls for independent legal figure to make final decision on Operation Branchform

dailyrecord.co.uk:

A former Cabinet Secretary has said any decision to prosecute Nicola Sturgeon or her husband over SNP fraud claims should not be made by the Crown Office.Alex Neil said an independent legal figure with no ties to Scottish politics should be in charge to guard against perceptions of bias.Police launched Operation Branchform after complaints were made about how £600,000 of indyref2 donations to the SNP were spent.Peter Murrell, who was SNP chief executive and is married to the former First Minister, was arrested last year but released without charge.Sturgeon and ex-SNP treasurer Colin Beattie were also arrested and released without charge and policy enquiries are ongoing.Dorothy Bain KC, who as Lord Advocate is head of the prosecution service and an SNP Government legal adviser, has recused herself from any role in the case.Neil, a former SNP Health Secretary, said the Crown Office should go further and recuse itself from any final decision to prosecute if that is what is decided.The ally of Alex Salmond said: “I personally think that someone from a different jurisdiction with no link to Scottish politics should be chosen.

Someone from outside Scotland and of international repute.“The questions I have are: who would be the person to take that decision and how would that person be appointed?“It can’t be the Lord Advocate deciding who makes the decision as that would not be a recusal.

If any decision is not going to be tarnished by politics, justice has to be done and be seen to be done.”He said Scotland is a “village” and people should be mindful of any perception of political bias in the case.He also made it clear he does not believe the police investigating the allegations have any agenda other than trying to find out the