Nicola Sturgeon arrested in SNP finances inquiry

There’s trouble for the Former Scottish first minister Nicola Sturgeon who according to international press is being interviewed ‘as a suspect’ as part of an investigation into claims party misspent £600,000 in donations

Sturgeon who resigned in March was arrested and is currently being questioned by detectives investigating the matter.

She is the third person to be arrested by lawmen who are investigating the allegations of financial misconduct by the Scottish National Party (SNP)

It is alleged that the SNP misspent more than £600,000 in donations for an independence campaign.

A spokesperson is quoted in the BBC as saying that Sturgeon said she had met the police by arrangement, in the knowledge that she would be arrested and interviewed.

The spokesperson said “Nicola Sturgeon has today, Sunday 11 June, by arrangement with Police Scotland, attended an interview where she was to be arrested and questioned in relation to Operation Branchform. Nicola has consistently said she would cooperate with the investigation if asked and continues to do so.”

Reports also indicated that her husband, Peter Murrell, the former chief executive of the SNP, was arrested at their home in Uddingston near Glasgow on 5 April after plainclothes officers arrived without warning. He was interviewed under caution for nearly 12 hours before being released without charge.

Boxes of documents were removed from their homes including computers and a luxury motorhome parked outside Murrell’s mother’s house in Fife

In a statement issued at 2.28 pm on Sunday, Police Scotland said: “A 52-year-old woman has today, Sunday 11 June 2023, been arrested as a suspect in connection with the ongoing investigation into the funding and finances of the Scottish National party. The woman is in custody and is being questioned by Police Scotland detectives. A report will be sent to the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service”.