JOHN Swinney said he has not been asked to speak to cops probing the SNP’s finances – after we revealed Alex Salmond was brought in by detectives to help with the investigation.
We told how the former first minister met officers and spoke to them at length about the long-running fraud probe into the finances of the party he once led.
Detectives believed the ex-SNP leader could offer “expertise” given his former role at the top of the Nats.
It was revealed Branchform cops were desperate to speak with the former FM about party spending during his leadership.
A source said: “The idea was that as a former SNP leader, he could provide expertise.
“After all, it is the party leader who has overall responsibility for party matters.”
It is understood Mr Salmond met with detectives over a year ago following a request.
But the Alba Party chief ultimately did not give a formal statement to officers before his death in October.
But asked whether he had been spoken to by officers, the First Minister said: “No.”
Mr Swinney said he would “of course” do so if asked and also refused to say whether his predecessor, Humza Yousaf, had spoken to cops.
On a visit to the Dunfermline Learning Campus in Fife, he said: “I’m not going to discuss Operation Branchform.”
Mr Swinney also refused to engage with whether the probe was hanging over his head as SNP leader.
He added: “It’s an investigation that’s underway and I’m not going to comment on it.”
Nicola Sturgeon is still under investigation by the police in connection with the probe.
And in April her husband and the SNP’s former chief executive, Peter Murrell, was charged with alleged embezzlement from the party.
Ex-party treasurer, Colin Beattie, also remains under investigation.
