Is it a surprise that Scotland’s prosecution service is taking a long time to decide what to do about Operation Branchform?
The investigation began more than three years ago and presumably involves complex allegations of financial crime.
In May, after charging Peter Murrell, Police Scotland sent the Crown Office a standard prosecution report, detailing their findings.
A second report seeking “advice and guidance” in relation to Nicola Sturgeon and Colin Beattie was submitted by the force in August.
The Crown Office has been working closely with the police throughout all of this so they would have known what they were going to say.
But police investigate and prosecutors prosecute.
The Crown’s team will be studying the reports line by line as they decide whether someone should be taken to court.
What happens with Branchform will be the most politically sensitive decision taken by the Crown since the prosecution of Alex Salmond but the identity of the individuals involved shouldn’t make any difference.
There’s either enough evidence to put a case before a jury or there’s not.
No matter how frustrating it must be for all of those involved, and for the SNP, this process will take as long as it takes.
