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A police investigation into the funding of the Scottish National Party has led to the arrest of Nicola Sturgeon.
As part of an investigation into financial irregularities at the Scottish National Party (SNP), former Scottish leader Nicola Sturgeon was arrested. She was released without charge pending further investigation.
Sturgeon’s husband, Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the SNP, was arrested in April as part of the investigation, which is sending shockwaves through Scotland’s political system.
Police Scotland said a 52-year-old woman has been arrested as a suspect in the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.
Sturgeon’s spokesperson said she was cooperating with the investigation, and that she had attended the interview with Police Scotland by arrangement.
In a tweet, Sturgeon said, “To find myself in the situation I did today – when I am certain that I have committed no offense – is both shocking and deeply distressing… I would never harm the SNP or the country.”
Considering the nature of this process, I cannot go into details. However, I know beyond a doubt that I am innocent.
Police Scotland said she was arrested at 10:09am (09:09 GMT) and released without charge at 5:24pm pending further investigation. “As the investigation is ongoing, we cannot comment further,” it said.
Transparency in funding
There have long been questions about Murrell’s alleged diversion of 600,000 British pounds ($754,000) in SNP donations.
Additionally, he failed to declare a personal loan of more than 100,000 British pounds ($125,700) to the SNP. He was later released without charge, pending further investigation.
Colin Beattie, the party’s treasurer, was also arrested in April.
After announcing her retirement earlier in the month, Sturgeon made her last appearance in the Scottish Parliament in March.
‘I am human’
For the SNP, which campaigns to end Scotland’s three-century political union with England, Sturgeon’s arrest is deeply embarrassing.
The SNP has been cooperating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so. However, it isn’t appropriate to address any issues publicly while this investigation is ongoing,” said an SNP spokesperson.
The couple’s home in Glasgow was sealed off with blue and white police tape at the time of Murrell’s arrest.
Scotland’s longest-serving leader announced her resignation in February, saying she had become too divisive to lead the country to independence.
On her departure, Sturgeon acknowledged that she was not able to give “every ounce of energy it needs” to see out the high-pressure position.
“I am both a human being and a politician,” she said.
