Nicola Sturgeon was arrested on Sunday as part of a police investigation into the financials of the Scottish National Party (SNP.)
The former Scottish first minister is the third high-profile SNP figure arrested during the investigation, after her husband, Peter Murrell, and former SNP treasurer Colin Beattie.
In a statement published on Sunday afternoon, Police Scotland said a 52-year-old woman was “arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National Party.”
The force later said Sturgeon was released after questioning without charges, pending further investigation.
Shortly after Sturgeon’s arrest, her spokeswoman said the former first minister had “by arrangement with Police Scotland, attended an interview where she was to be arrested and questioned in relation to Operation Branchform,“ adding that Sturgeon ”has consistently said she would co-operate with the investigation if asked and continues to do so.”
Sturgeon later issued a statement on Twitter, saying she’s “innocent of any wrongdoing.”
“To find myself in the situation I did today when I am certain I have committed no offence is both a shock and deeply distressing,” the former first minister said.
Sturgeon said she “obviously” can’t comment on ongoing investigations, but wanted to say “in the strongest possible terms” that she’s innocent.
“Innocence is not just a presumption I am entitled to in law. I know beyond doubt that I am in fact innocent of any wrongdoing,” she wrote.
She also said she intended to return to Parliament soon after taking “a day or two” off.
Sturgeon’s Glasgow home was raided by the police in April after her husband, Murrell, who was the SNP’s chief executive until March this year, was arrested for questioning.
Around two weeks later, the force shortly after arrested Beattie, who was the party’s treasurer between 2004 and 2020 and returned to the job in 2021.
Both men were released after questioning. Beattie stepped down as treasurer following his arrest.
The police investigation, dubbed Operation Branchform, began in July 2021 following allegations that some £600,000 the party raised through crowdfunding for the Scottish independence campaign was diverted elsewhere.
Sturgeon previously denied the allegations, saying, “Every penny we raise to support the campaign for independence will be spent on the campaign for independence.”
Calls for Suspension
After Sturgeon’s arrest on Sunday, a spokeswoman for the SNP said the party has “been co-operating fully with this investigation and will continue to do so.” It declined to “publicly address any issues while that investigation is ongoing.”Rival parties also commented on the arrest, with Labour’s shadow Scottish secretary Ian Murray saying, “This is a deeply concerning development and the Police Scotland investigation must be allowed to proceed without interference.
“For too long, a culture of secrecy and cover-up has been allowed to fester at the heart of the SNP,” he said.
Scottish Lib Dem leader Alex Cole-Hamilton said, “It’s fair to say that today’s events will have huge ramifications both for the SNP and the future of Scottish politics.”
Scotland’s Conservative Party called on First Minister Humza Yousaf to suspend his predecessor from Parliament, saying the SNP had previously set the precedent of suspending MSPs who were under police investigation.
“Humza Yousaf must now show some leadership and suspend his predecessor,” the statement reads.
Hoy went on to say the SNP is “totally distracted at the worst possible time” when focus is needed for “the cost-of-living crisis, fixing our NHS, and strengthening our economy.”
SNP MP Angus MacNeil also called for Sturgeon to be suspended, saying it’s time for “political distance.”
Sturgeon resigned as first minister in February, saying the time was right for someone else to take over.”
She said politicians have no off days or privacy, and the “intensity” and “brutality” in political life “takes its toll on you and on those around you.”
During the months before her resignation, Sturgeon suffered a number of political defeats and questions surrounding a £100,000 loan Murrell had given to the party to help with the Party’s “cash flow.”
